The ability of the new nitrogen-containing bisphosphonate disodium-1-hydroxy-3-(1-pyrrolidinyl)-propylidene-1,1-bisphosphona te (EB-1053) to inhibit osteoclastic resorption was examined in vitro and in vivo. Results were compared to those obtained with 3-amino-1-hydroxypropylidene-1,1-bisphosphonate (pamidronate or APD). In vitro, when tested in osteoclast precursor-dependent systems (fetal mouse metacarpals and a coculture system), EB-1053 suppressed 45Ca release effectively and was found to be about 10 times more potent than pamidronate (ED50 = 2.5 x 10(-7) versus 2.5 x 10(-6) M, respectively). The EB-1053-inhibited osteoclastic resorption could be reversed by treatment with parathyroid hormone (PTH). In vivo, daily subcutaneous injections of EB-1053 to young growing rats for 7 days increased metaphyseal bone mass in tibiae dose dependently. In these experiments EB-1053 was about 50 times more potent than pamidronate. These studies show that EB-1053 is a very potent bisphosphonate that has potential use in the treatment of skeletal disorders.