Effect of total flavonoids of Herba Epimedii on apoptosis of osteoblasts in ovarieetomized rats / 中华内分泌代谢杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To investigate the effect of total flavonoids of Herba Epimedii (HEF) on the apoptosis of osteoblasts in the ovariectomized (OVX) rats. Methods Fifty-four female rats were allocated into 6 groups (9 rats in each group) ; OVX group, sham-operated group, 3 groups with OVX followed by three different dosages of HEF(40,80 and 160 mg· kg-1·d-1) and another group by nilestriol (0.1 mg· kg-1·d-1) for 12 weeks respectively. Bone mineral density (BMD) of whole body of rats was determined by DEXA. The serum level of estradiol was measured by radioimmunologic assay. Apoptotic ceils were examined using terminal dexynudeotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) and observed by electron microscope. The protein expressions of transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1 ,fibroblast growth factor (FGF)-2 and Fas were tested withimmunohistochemical methods. Results Compared with the OVX group,BMD in the HEF treated (80 and 160 mg ·kg-1·d-1) groups were increased (P < 0.01), but the serum level of estradiol was not increased (P >0.05). Positive expression rate of apoptotie osteoblasts and osteocytes in the OVX group was significantly higher than that in sham-operated group after 12 weeks (P < 0. 01), and were decreased after HEF treatment (P < 0.01).Compared with the OVX group, Fas expression in the HEF treated groups was significantly decreased (P < 0.01), and expressions of TGF-β1 and FGF-2 were significantly increased, especially in 80 and 160 mg·kg-1·d-1 HEF groups (P < 0.01). Conclusion HEF has antiosteoporotic effect in ovariectomized rats. HEF can inhibit apoptosis of osteoblasts and osteocytes, which may thus contribute to its antiosteoporotic effect.