Pulsed electromagnetic fields stimulation combined with sclerostin antibody improves bone metabolism and bone microstructure in postmenopausal osteoporosis rabbits / 中国组织工程研究

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Both pulsed electromagnetic fields (PEMF) stimulation and sclerostin antibody (Scl-Ab) have good effects on the bone metabolism of ovariectomized (OVX) New Zealand rabbits, but research on the combined intervention of PEMF and Scl-Ab in the OVX rabbits is rarely reported. OBJECTIVE: To explore the effect of PEMF combined with Scl-Ab on postmenopausal osteoporosis and to explore the therapeutic value for osteoporosis. METHODS: An animal model of postmenopausal osteoporosis was made in New Zealand white rabbits after ovariectomy. The experimental animals were randomly divided into OVX control group, PEMF group, Scl-Ab group and PEMF+Scl-Ab group, with 10 rats in each group. On the 1st day after surgery, the PEMF group was given PEMF magnetic therapy once a day; the Scl-Ab group was given subcutaneous injection of Scl-Ab twice a week; the PEMF+Scl-Ab group received PEMF magnetic therapy once a day, five times a week, and Scl-Ab subcutaneous injections twice a week; the OVX group was injected subcutaneously with the same dose of normal saline twice a week for 8 weeks. After 8 weeks of treatment, bone metabolism index, bone mineral density, and MicroCT bone microstructure parameters were detected. All animal procedures were approved by the Department of Experimental Animal Science, Fudan University (approval No. 20171263A193). RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Bone mineral density was significantly decreased in the New Zealand white rabbits after 6 months of OVX, suggesting that the osteoporosis model was successfully established. Compared with the OVX group, the bone mineral density of the L3 vertebral body in the PEMF group, the Scl-Ab group and the PEMF+Scl-Ab group increased significantly (P < 0.05). Compared with the OVX group, serum bone-specific alkaline phosphatase levels were significantly higher, and serum tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase 5b levels were significantly lower in the PEMF group, the Scl-Ab group and the PEMF+Scl-Ab group. The serum tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase 5b level in the PEMF+Scl-Ab group was significantly lower than that in the PEMF group and the Scl-Ab group. The bone metabolism index and bone microstructural parameters (bone volume fraction, trabecular thickness, trabecular number, and trabecular separation) of the PEMF+Scl-Ab group were significantly better than those of the PEMF group and the Scl-Ab group (all P < 0.05). These findings indicate that the combination of Scl-Ab and PEMF can enhance bone mineral density and improve bone metabolism and bone microstructure in postmenopausal osteoporosis New Zealand white rabbits.