Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research ›› 2010, Vol. 14 ›› Issue (2): 205-208.doi: 10.3969/j.issn.1673-8225.2010.02.004

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Effects of gallium nitrate on collagen and bone calcium protein in rat models of estrogen deficiency-induced osteoporosis

Guo Yu-xia1, Yang Da-zhi2, Wang Duo2, Zhen Wan-xin2, Liu Hong-tao2, Gao Guo-yong2   

  1. 1 Department of Gynecology, 2 Department of Spinal Surgery, Second Clinical Medical College of Jinan University (Shenzhen People’ Hospital), Shenzhen   518020, Guangdong Province, China
  • Online:2010-01-08 Published:2010-01-08
  • About author:Guo Yu-xia, Associate chief physician, Department of Gynecology, Second Clinical Medical College of Jinan University (Shenzhen People’ Hospital), Shenzhen 518020, Guangdong Province, China yangdazhi@medmail.com.cn
  • Supported by:

    Scientific Research Fund of Shenzhen City Science and Technology Bureau in 2004, No. 200405005*

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Abstract:

BACKGROUND: Gallium is a non-essential trace element in the human body. In vivo experiments have confirmed that gallium can directly inhibit bone osteolysis, prevent bone calcium release, increase bone calcium content, serves as a new drug treatment of metabolic bone disease, its anti-bone transformation mechanism remains unclear.
OBJECTIVE: To observe the effects of gallium nitrate on collagen and bone calcium protein in osteoporotic rat model.
METHODS: Ninety female SD rats were divided into control group (n = 20) and osteoporosis group (n = 70) at random. Control group rats were sutured to close abdominal cavity after bilateral ovarian was exposed. Osteoporosis group rats received the bilateral ovariectomy to produce osteoporotic rat models, which then were assigned into 4 groups by random digits table: osteoporotic control group (n = 16) by intraperitoneal injection of saline, 3 times per week; Low-dose gallium salt group (n = 16) by intraperitoneal injection of 1 mg/kg of gallium nitrate, 3 times per week; High-dose gallium salt group (n = 15) by intraperitoneal injection of 2 mg/kg of gallium nitrate, 3 times per week; Estrogen group (n = 15) by intraperitoneal injection of estradiol, 3 times per week. After 12 weeks of the treatment, the bone collagen, osteocalcin protein and hydroxyproline levels in bone specimens were detected.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Compared with control group, the content of collagen in osteoporosis control group was reduced (P < 0.05), the contents of aminohexose and hydroxyproline increased (P < 0.05), no significant differences were observed in the content of sulfate-base for both groups. Following gallium and estradiol treatment, the collagen contents enhanced (P < 0.05), while the contents of aminohexose and hydroxyproline reduced (P < 0.05). High-dose gallium salt group had a remarkable curative effect compared with low-dose gallium salt group (P < 0.05), and was similar to estradiol group (P > 0.05). It is indicated that gallium nitrate can improve bone metabolism status with osteoporosis through increasing the content of collagen and decreasing the content of hydroxyproline, 2 mg/kg gallium nitrate are similar to estrogen treatment.

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