Effects of Epimedium on the Expression of Interleukin-6 Messenger Ribonucleic Acid in Bone of Ovariectomized Rat / 中华妇产科杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To investigate the effects of the traditional herb-epimedium on the expression of interleukin-6 (IL-6) mRNA in bone of ovariectomized rat. Methods Forty female rats were randomly allocated into 4 groups, 10 in each ovariectomized (OVX) group, sham operation group, OVX followed by epimedium (group 3)or nilestriol (group 4) for 3 months respectively. All rats were then sacrificed,and total RNA were directly isolated from their right tibia. Interleukin-6 mRNA expression was detected by relative semiquantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction technique. Lumbar bone mineral density (BMD) was measured by dual-energy X ray absorptiometry before sacrifice. Results The BMD of epimedium group was significantly higher than that in the OVX group ( P