Antiosteoporosis effect of Ligustrum lucidum on ovariectomized rats and its effect on GH/IGF-1 signaling pathway / 中草药

ABSTRACT

Objective: To investigate the relationship between the anti-osteoporotic effect of Ligustrum lucidum and the growth hormone (GH)/insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) signaling pathways. Methods: L. lucidum aqueous extract was orally administrated to ovariectomized (OVX) rats for 14 weeks. Then the femurs were removed and stained with hematoxylin & eosin (HE) and Safranin O/Fast Green staining, respectively, to evaluate the change of bone microstructure. The histomorphological parameters and bone mineral density (BMD) of the femurs were measured by micro-CT. Furthermore, rat serum GH level was determined by ELISA assay, and IGF-1 protein expression in liver and bone was determined by Western blotting and immunohistochemical staining. Results: L. lucidum prevented the disorganized femoral trabeculae and inhibited the decrease in BMD and glycosaminoglycan content in OVX rats. In addition, L. lucidum significantly inhibited the decrease of serum GH levels and improved IGF-1 protein expression of liver and bone in OVX rats. Conclusion: L. lucidum may prevent against osteoporosis through inhibition of bone loss and improvement of bone microstructure via regulating GH/IGF-1 signaling pathway.