Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research ›› 2010, Vol. 14 ›› Issue (24): 4380-4384.doi: 10.3969/j.issn.1673-8225.2010.24.003

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Effects of combining estrogen and progesterone on bone mineral density and histomorphometry in ovariectomized rats

Liang Min, Zhang Jie, Liang Xing-huan, Luo Zuo-jie   

  1. Department of Endocrinology, First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning  530021, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China
  • Online:2010-06-11 Published:2010-06-11
  • About author:Liang Min☆, Doctor, Professor, Department of Endocrinology, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning 530021, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China liangmin7268@sohu.com
  • Supported by:

     the Guangxi Natural Science Foundation, No. 0447042*

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Abstract:

BACKGROUND: Treatment of menopausal osteoporosis using estrogen combined with progesterone not only build up the therapeutic effect, but also reduce the side effect of estrogen, thus attracting more and more attention.
OBJECTIVE: To observe the combining effects of 17β-estradiol and levonorgestrel on bone mineral density (BMD) and histomorphometry in ovariectomized SD rats.
METHODS: Female SD rats were randomly assigned to the sham-operated group (sham group), ovariectomized group (OVX group), 17β-estradiol group (EST group), levonorgestrel group (LNG group) and 17β-estradiol combined with levonorgestrel group (EST+LNG group). After ablating bilateral ovarian model, EST, and EST+LNG group rats were administrated 17β-estradiol (10 μg/kg per day), LNG group and EST+LNG group rats were administrated levonorgestrel(60 μg/kg per day). The rats were killed 12 weeks later. The BMD of whole body was measured by bone densitometry. The fourth lumbar vertebra sections were cut for bone histomorphometry analysis. The biochemical bone markers were measured.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: BMD and weight of thighbone in OVX group and LNG group were lower than of the sham, EST and EST+LNG groups (P < 0.05). But BMD and weight of thighbone had no significant difference between the EST group and EST+LNG group (P > 0.05). Compared with the sham group, the bone trabecular area percentage, thickness and number in OVX group and LNG group were decreased (P < 0.05), while the bone trabecular resolution, bone mineral apposition rate, bone surface area formation rate, bone volume formation rate and bone mineral apposition rate in OVX group and LNG group were increased
(P < 0.05). Compared with OVX group, the bone trabecular area percentage, thickness and number in EST group and EST+LNG group were increased (P < 0.05), while the bone trabecular resolution, bone surface area formation rate, bone volume formation rate in EST group and EST+LNG group were decreased (P < 0.05). The differences between the EST group and EST+LNG group had no significant differences (P > 0.05). All results demonstrated that combining 17β-estradiol with levonorgestrel can improve BMD and reverse the high bone turnover rate, which have no harm to bone formation.

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