Apoptosis-related factors in a model of steroid-induced necrosis of the femoral head

doi:10.3969/j.issn.2095-4344.2013.07.010

Abstract

Abstract:

BACKGROUND: Recent studies have shown that a large amount of apoptotic osteocytes in the model of steroid-induced necrosis of the femoral head. Caspase-3 and Bcl-2 are two important factors for regulation of cell apoptosis.
OBJECTIVE: To observe Bcl-2 and Caspase-3 levels in a rat model of femoral head necrosis and their correlation.
METHODS: Sixty healthy Wistar rats were randomly divided into two groups (n=30). Experimental group was treated with gluteal muscle injection of prednisolone 12.5 mg/kg, twice per week, for establishing a femoral head necrosis model; control group was injected with the same amount of normal saline. Rat femoral head was removed after 4, 8 and 12 weeks respectively. Bone tissue morphological changes were observed by hematoxylin-eosin staining and the protein expression levels of Bcl-2 and Caspase-3 were observed using immunohistochemical staining. Linear correlation analysis was performed for analysis of correlation between Bcl-2 and Caspase-3.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Femoral heads were complete in the experimental and control groups with smooth and flat cartilage surface. In the experimental group, the trabecular bone in the femoral head gradually became thinner, the number of adipose cells increased and percentage of empty lacunae significantly increased with the time of administration. Caspase-3 expression increased significantly in the experimental group compared with the control group (P < 0.01), trending to gradually increase with the time of administration. Conversely, the expression of Bcl-2 was lower in the experimental group than the control group (P < 0.01). The linear correlation analysis showed that there was no correlation between Bcl-2 and Caspase-3. These findings indicate that steroids can increase the expression of Caspase-3 promoting apoptosis of osteocytes and reduce the expression of Bcl-2 inhibiting anti-apoptotic role, which leads to the occurrence and development of steroid-induced necrosis of the femoral head.

Key words: tissue construction, experimental modeling in tissue construction, seroid-induced necrosis of the femoral head, Bcl-2, Caspase-3, correlation analysis, apoptosis, femoral head, osteocytes, tissue construction photographs-containing paper

CLC Number:

R318

Zhang Rui-dong, Zhang Lan, Mao Hong-gang, Liu Guo-dong. Apoptosis-related factors in a model of steroid-induced necrosis of the femoral head[J]. Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research, 2013, 17(7): 1189-1195.

Figures/Tables 7

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