Protective effect of folic acid on osteoporosis in ovariectomized rats
10.3760/cma.j.issn.1000-6699.2011.07.015
- VernacularTitle:叶酸对去卵巢大鼠骨质疏松的保护作用
- Author:
Haimin WANG
;
Xulei TANG
;
Dezeng TIAN
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
Folic acid;
Homocysteine;
Osteoporosis;
Ovariectomized;
Rat
- From:
Chinese Journal of Endocrinology and Metabolism
2011;27(7):594-598
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
Objective To investigate the protective effect of folic acid(FA) on osteoporosis in ovariectomized(OVX) rats.Methods Forty three-month-old female SD Rats were divided into 5 groups, sham operation group, OVX group, diethylstilbestrol group(0.03mg·kg-1·d-1),low dose FA Group (5 mg·kg-1·d-1),and high dose FA group (20 mg·kg-1·d-1).Gastric gavage in each group was started from one week after being ovariectomized and lasted 10 weeks. Sham operation group and OVX group were treated with solvent. The rats were sacrificed at the end of 10th week after treatment. The total homocysteine(tHcy) in plasma, alkaline phosphatase(ALP), and tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase(TRACP) activity of bone homogenates were measured. The bone mineral density(BMD) and bone biomechanics were determined using L5 vertebrae and right femur. The bone tissue slices were made with L6 vertebrae and left femur and HE stained, and then the histomorphology was observed. Results Compared with sham operation group, plasma tHcy level was significantly increased(P＜0.01), BMD of lumbar vertebrae and femur was remarkedly decreased in OVX group(all P＜0.01). Plasma tHcy concentration was negatively correlated with lumbar BMD(r=-0.359, P=0.040). Plasma tHcy level in both groups treated with folic acid was significantly reduced(all P＜0.01). The ALP concentration in bone homogenates was higher, the TRACP concentration in bone homogenates was lower, and BMD and bone biomechanics of lumbar vertebrae and femur were increased in high dose FA group than those in OVX group(all P ＜0.01). Conclusions In OVX rats hyperhomocysteinemia existed and was involved in the development of osteoporosis. Folic acid could protect OVX rats from osteoporosis, due probably to improved homocysteine metabolism.
