Effect of kidney and spleen-tonifying and blood flow-promoting traditional Chinese prescription on serum interleukin-6 in rats with senile osteoporosis

Qingwu TAN; Junwen CHEN

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND:

In recent years, the effects of cytokines on osteoporosis have Received much attention, and of these cytokines, interleukin-6(IL-6) is considered to play an important role in the regulation of bone absorption.

OBJECTIVE:

To observe the changes of bone mineral density(BMD) and serum IL-6 rats with in senile osteoporosis after reperfusion with kidney and spleen-tonifying and blood flow-promoting prescription of traditional Chinese medicine.

DESIGN:

A randomized controlled experimental study based on the experimental animals.

SETTING:

Second Department of Cadre, Bethune International Peace Hospital of Chinese PLA; department of regimen and rehabilitation in a college of traditional Chinese medicine.MATERIALS The experiment was conducted in the Center of Experimental Animals, Hubei College of Traditional Chinese Medicine between May and August 2003. Thirty 15-month-old Wistar rats(15 males and 15 females) were provided by the Experimental Animal Center of Tongji Medical College,Huazhong University of Science and Technology.

METHODS:

According to random number table method, 30 rats were divided into normal control group, pathological control group and traditional Chinese prescription treatment group. Rat models of senile osteoporosis were established in the latter two groups by injection with 2.5 mg/kg dexamethasone given twice a weeks for 6 consecutive weeks. Rats in normal control group and pathological control group were given oral administration of saline,and those in the treatment group were treated with the traditional Chinese prescription. After 6 weeks of treatment, blood samples were obtained from all rats by removing the eyeballs and the serum was separated by centrifugation,followed by truncation of the right hindlimb for dissection of the femoral bone. Serum IL-6 was measured by radioimmunoassay and BMD determined by means of displacement of acetone.MAIN OU TCOME

MEASURES:

BMD of the femoral bone and serum IL-6 level.

RESULTS:

The BMD of the pathological control group was significantly lower ( P < 0.01), but the serum IL-6 level was significantly higher( P < 0.01 ) than those of the normal control group. The BMD of the treatment group was significantly higher but serum IL-6 level significantly lower than those of the pathological control group ( P < 0.01 for both comparisons).

CONCLUSION:

The traditional Chinese prescription can decrease the production of IL-6 and lower serum IL-6 level to reduce the bone loss in senile rats.