The influence of bexarotene, a selective agonist of the retinoid receptor X (RXR), and tazarotene, a selective agonist of the retinoid acid receptor (RAR), on bone metabolism in rats

Although bexarotene and tazarotene administration caused decrease in the femur index, mechanisms responsible for that effect seem to be different. Our results suggest that bexaroten increases bone turnover. On the contrary, tazaroten seems to have inhibitory effect on bone turnover. A counter influence of selective RAR and RXR agonists on the bone turnover might be the reason for inconsistency in results from published research concerning the influence of retinoids on bone metabolism.