Effects of Chinese herbal medicine for supplementing Shen and strengthening the bone on rat distal femur cancellous bone in simulated weightlessness: an observation with scanning electron microscope / 南方医科大学学报

ABSTRACT

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the effect of Chinese herbal medicine for supplementing Shen and strengthening the bone on distal femoral trabecular ultrastructure of male rats subjected to simulated weightlessness.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Fifteen male SD rats were randomized equally into 3 groups, including a control group (group A, in which the rats were allowed free movement) and two simulated weightlessness (via tail suspension) groups (group B and C). The rats in group C were treated with the commercially available Chinese herbal preparation, and those in the other two groups received normal saline at the same dose, for a treatment course of 28 days. Observation of trabeculae was performed with scanning electron microscopy.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>In group B, the trabeculae of the femur became thinner, fragile, discontinuous with reduced quantity as compared with those in group A. The rats in group C had greater number of the trabeculae than those in group B. Resorption surface decreased and the collagenous fiber were much more regular in group B.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The Chinese herbal medicine may produce beneficial effect on bone microstructure of rats subjected to simulated weightlessness.</p>