Grape seed proanthocyanidins antagonize osteocyte apoptosis due to steroid-induced osteonecrosis of the femoral head / 中国组织工程研究

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Steroid-induced avascular necrosis of the femoral head has a complex biological process, and its pathogenesis is unknown. To date, there is no effective treatment in clinical practice. Therefore, exploring the etiology of steroid-induced avascular necrosis of the femoral head is still an important content of research in this field. OBJECTIVE: To explore the effect of grape seed proanthocyanidins on osteocyte apoptosis due to steroid-induced osteonecrosis of the femoral head. METHODS: Twenty-seven Japanese white rabbits were randomly divided into three groups. The model group was intravenously injected with E. coli endotoxin, 100 μg/kg, twice at an interval of 24 hours. Two injections of E. coli endotoxin were followed by intramuscular injection of methylprednisolone 20 mg/kg, for 3 times. The interval was 24 hours. The treatment group was intravenously injected with E. coli endotoxin, 100 μg/kg, twice at an interval of 24 hours. After the second injection of E. coli endotoxin, methylprednisolone 20 mg/kg and grape seed proanthocyanidin extract 200 μg/kg were injected intramuscularly three times at an interval of 24 hours. The control group was treated with the same dose of saline intravenously. The animals were killed by air embolization at the 4th week after the last injection. Under the relatively aseptic condition, the bilateral femoral heads were routinely fixed, decalcified, embedded and sliced. Histomorphological observation and hematoxylin-eosin staining were performed to count empty bone lacunae under light microscope. Hoechst staining was used to detect cell apoptosis. The expressions of Caspase-9 and Bcl-2 in the femoral head were detected by immunohistochemical staining.