Abstract

Purpose : This study was carried out to investigated the effects of Saenghyeolbosu-Tang on the morphometric changes of femur, and on the hormones and cytokines associated with bone metabolism in ovariectomized rats. Methods : Twenty-four female Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into sham operated group(normal), ovariectomized group(control), and treated with extract of Saenghyeolbosu-Tang group(treated). Each group was evaluated the changes of body weight at 0, 3, 6, 8, weeks after ovariectomy. Morphometric analysis(femur weight, femur/body weight, femur ash weight, femur ash/body weight, cross sectional area of compact bone and cancellous bone of femur) and histopathological examination were performed at 8 weeks after ovariectomy. Estrogen and cytokines($TNF-{\alpha},\;IL-1{\beta}$, IL-6) assay were performed at 8 weeks after ovariectomy. Results : 1. The femur weight(g) of treated group(1.59${\pm}$0.08) was significantly increased(p<0.05)compared with the control group(1.50${\pm}$0.07) at 8 weeks. 2. The femur/body weight(g) of treated group(5.27${\pm}$0.36) was significantly increased(p<0.05) compared with the control group(4.78${\pm}$0.37) at 8 weeks. 3. In the cross sectional area of cancellous bone of femur(${mm^2}$) the treated group(1.60${\pm}$0.20)was significantly increased(p<0.01) compared with the control group(1.19${\pm}$0.19) at 8 weeks. 4. The serum estrogen level(pg/ml) of treated(83.67${\pm}$27.44) and control group(800.49${\pm}$22.27)showed no significantly different changes at 8 weeks. 5. The serum $TNF-{\alpha}$ level(pg/ml) of treated(33.71${\pm}$6.43) and control group(41.35${\pm}$8.47) showed no significantly different changes at 8 weeks. 6. The serum $IL-1{\beta}$ level(pg/ml) of treated group(53.78${\pm}$10.83) was significantly decreased(p<0.001) compared with the control group(79.80${\pm}$11.40) at 8 weeks. 7. The serum IL-6 level(pg/ml) of treated group(55.52${\pm}$9.02) was significantly decreased(p<0.01) compared with the control group(69.69${\pm}$7.95) at 8 weeks. Conclusion : This study shows that Saenghyeolbosu-Tang inhibits bone resolution in ovariectomized rats. These results may be related to the inhibitory effect of Saenghyeolbosu-Tang on the secretion of $IL-1{\beta}$ and IL-6 in the Pathogenesis of　osteoporosis.

Keywords

• Saenghyeolbosu-Tang;
• osteoporosis;
• histopathology;
• IL-1${\beta}$;
• IL-6