Abstract:

BACKGROUND: Studies concerning effects of traditional Chinese medicine on osteoporosis of the femoral neck in ovariectomized rats using bone histomorphometry methods can provide basis for the traditional Chinese medicine treatment on femoral neck fracture in postmenopausal women with osteoporosis.
OBJECTIVE: To explore the effects of capsule of Xianzhen Gubao on cancellous bone of the femoral neck in ovariectomized rats.
METHODS: Female Sprague Dawley rats with 3-month old were randomly divided into the basal control, aging control, ovariectomized and Xianzhen Gubao groups. In the later two groups, rats were prepared for ovariectomized models and intragastric administration of saline and Xianzhen Gubao respectively. Rats in the aging control group were received intragastric administration of saline. After 90 days, all rats were killed and their femoral neck were processed to undecalcified sections and measured by automatic image-analysis system for bone histomorphometry.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Compared with aging control group, the percent trabecular area and trabecular number in the ovariectomized group were obviously decreased (P < 0.01), the trabecular separation increased (P < 0.01), while the osteoclast number per mm and percent osteoclast surface perimeter were notably increased (P< 0.01), and the mineral apposition rate were reduced (P < 0.01). The results demonstrated that ovariectomy would markedly reduce the trabecular bone of femoral neck. The capsule of Xianzhen Gubao can prevent the trabecular bone loss of the neck of femur in ovariectomized rats.