1.Mechanism of Bushen Huatan Prescription in Regulation of Osteogenesis and Adipogenic Differentiation and Improvement of Postmenopausal Bone Loss in Ovariectomized Rats with Osteoporosis
Yan ZHANG ; Nan XIANG ; Guangwen ZHOU ; Zhangqing LI ; Zhangkui TAN ; Shiyi HUANG ; Mengxin XIONG ; Lin ZHANG
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2022;28(20):53-60
ObjectiveTo explore the underlying mechanism of Bushen Huatan prescription in alleviating postmenopausal osteoporosis (PMOP) by maintaining the balance of osteogenesis and adipogenic differentiation in ovariectomized rats with osteoporosis. MethodSeventy-five 6-month-old non-pregnant female SD rats were randomly divided into sham-operation group, model group, atorvastatin group, liviol group, and Bushen Huatan prescription group. Bilateral ovaries were removed in the four groups except the sham-operation group, while only the same mass of adipose tissue around the ovaries was removed in the sham-operation group. On the 5th week after surgery, drugs were consecutively administrated for 8 weeks. Rats in the Bushen Huatan prescription group received 9.4 mg·kg-1 of the prescription, rats in the atorvastatin group received 0.92 mg·kg-1 of atorvastatin, rats in the Liviol group received 0.23 mg·kg-1 of liviol, and rats in the model group and the sham-operation group received saline once a day. Micro-computed tomography (Micro CT) was used to detect bone mineral density (BMD) of rat tibia in each group. Hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining was used to detect the relative area of rat bone marrow adipose tissue (BMAT) in each group. Real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction (Real-time PCR) and Western blot were used to detect the relative expression levels of Runt-related transcription factor 2 (Runx2), peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPARγ), leptin (LPN), and leptin receptor (OBR) in bone tissues. ResultAs compared with the sham operation group, the BMD of rats in the model group decreased (P<0.05), while the relative area of BMAT increased (P<0.05). In addition, the expression levels of LPN, OBR, and Runx2 decreased in the model group (P<0.05), while the level of PPARγ increased (P<0.05). As compared with the model group, the BMD of rats in the atorvastatin group, the Livial group, and the Bushen Huatan prescription group increased (P<0.05), and the relative area of BMAT decreased (P<0.05). The expression levels of LPN, OBR, and Runx2 in these groups increased (P<0.05), while the expression level of PPARγ decreased (P<0.05). ConclusionBushen Huatan prescription plays the anti-osteoporosis role in the rat model of PMOP through up-regulating LPN and OBR in bone tissues and maintaining the balance of osteogenesis and adipogenic differentiation, thereby reducing postmenopausal bone loss and playing a role in the prevention and treatment of PMOP.