ABSTRACT
Objective: To explore the mechanisms of acupuncture in improving osteoporosis. Methods: In this study, the expression of OPG and BMP-2 proteins of femur in SAMP6 control group, SAMP6 acupuncture group, SAMP6 sham-acupuncture group and SAMR1 control group were determined by Western Blot technique. Results: Compared with SAMR1 control group, the expression of OPG and BMP-2 proteins of the femur in SAMP6 control mice decreased obviously. Acupuncture could stimulate the expression of OPG and BMP-2 and no differences were detected between the SAMR1 control group and SAMP6 acupuncture group. Conclusion: Osteoporosis observed in SAMP6 was correlated with low expression of OPG and BMP-2. After acupuncture treatment, both of them showed increased expression, it suggested that the curative effects of acupuncture on osteoporosis were partly due to stimulating skeleton formation, inducing the production of some local factors of bone metabolism and decreasing the bone turnover rate.