ABSTRACT
Objective To investigate the role of bone metabolic indices in the diagnosis and monitoring of therapeutic effects in osteoporosis, the serum tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase form 5b(TRACP5b) level and other parameters such as Dpd in urine of osteoporosis animal model (ovariotomy rats) in different timing point were measured and analyzed. Methods Eighty female SD rats were divided into five groups and had ovariotomy operation (one group was pseudo-operated). Drug treatment began at the third day after the operation. Six rats in each group were sacrificed after 4 weeks and 14 weeks respectively, the bone metabolic indices were measured and bone histomorphometric data were collected. Results Four weeks after operation, the Dpd/Cr and TRACP5b in ovariotomy group were significantly higher than those in the pseudo-operated group, and TRACP5b was still higher after 14 weeks. In the drug treatment groups, serum E2 level was not changed 4 weeks later, however, Dpd/Cr and TRACP5b had changed greatly. After 14 weeks of drug treatment, there was only a significant decrease of TRACP5b among the bone resorption parameters, but other indices had no change.Bone histomorphometric data showed that the bone volume was improved in each drug treatment group. Conclusions Serum TRACP5b level can reflect the activitiy of osteoclasts and the situation of osteoporosis either in the early stage (high turnover period) or in later stage (low turnover period) of osteoporosis. The drugs used in this experiment can inhibit the ostoclast activity and reduce the level of bone resorption parameters, especially the TRACP5b level. Bone histomorphometric results suggestes that the function and manners of different drugs vary in improving of bone volume.