Resistance of osteosclerotin knockout mice to glucocorticoid induced bone microstructure degeneration / 中国医师杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective@#To observe the changes in bone mineral density and microstructure parameters in sclerostin (SOST) gene knockout mice treated with glucocorticoid.@*Methods@#12 4-week-old SOST knockout mice were randomly divided into two groups (n=6) methylprednisolone intervention group [SOM group, methylprednisolone 3 mg/(kg·d), subcutaneous injection], placebo group (SOS group, isovolumetric saline subcutaneous injection). 12 wild-type mice were randomly divided into two groups (n=6) wild-type placebo group (WTS group, isovolumetric saline subcutaneous injection), wild methylprednisolone intervention group [WTM group, methylprednisolone 3 mg/(kg·d), subcutaneous injection]. 12 weeks later, mice were sacrificed and one lumbar vertebra of each mouse was selected for micro-CT analysis.@*Results@#There was no difference in bone mineral density (BMD), trabecular volume fraction, trabecular number and trabecular thickness between SOM and SOS groups (P>0.05). BMD, trabecular volume fraction, trabecular number and trabecular thickness in SOM and SOS groups were significantly higher than those in WTS and WTM groups (P<0.05). BMD, trabecular volume fraction, trabecular number and trabecular thickness in WTM group were significantly lower than those in WTS group (P<0.05).@*Conclusions@#Sclerotin gene knockout mice can resist glucocorticoid-induced bone loss and bone microarchitectural deterioeration. The treatment of osteoporosis with SOST/sclerotin as a target will be an effective method in the future.