Correlation between salivary and serum markers of bone turnover in osteopenic rats.

Background: Previously, we measured bone alkaline phosphatase (b-ALP) and terminal C-telopeptide of collagen type I (CTX) in saliva. The present longitudinal experimental study sought to determine whether salivary concentrations of b-ALP and CTX have the same response as in serum samples under different conditions: normal, increased, and reduced bone remodeling.

Methods: Thirty rats were ovariectomized (OVX) to induce osteopenia 60 days after surgery, and 10 rats were sham operated.