Liu Chunhui*, Ao Youguang, Yao Lei, Zhou La, Jiang Zhaolei, Ma Jianchao and Shen Zhuorui
Introduction: Clinic however, the possible mechanism of bone protection mechanism of Zuogui pill on osteoporosis is still largely unknown.
Methods: An osteoporosis model of postmenopausal breast cancer was generated by gavage of letrozole in mice with ovariectomized breast cancer. Female SPF BALB/c mice were divided into the normal group, pseudocastrated group, model group (letrozole), alendronate group (alendronate tablets) and lowdose, medium-dose and high-dose Zuogui pill groups. Each group was given gavage for 4 weeks according to the corresponding administration plan. Blood was collected from the eyeballs. Serum oestradiol (E2), Bone Alkaline Phosphatase (BALP) and amino terminal propeptide of type ? collagen (PINP) were detected by Enzyme-Related Immunosorbent Assays (ELISAs). After death, the right femur and tibia were taken and stained with he to observe the bone histopathology. Microcomputed Tomography (μCT) was used to detect bone density and trabecular microstructure in vitro. The protein expression levels of Wnt3a, β-catenin and Runx2 in bone tissue were detected by Western blots.
Results: Compared with the model group treatment, Zuogui pill significantly decreased the serum level of Bone Alkaline Phosphatase (BALP) (P<0.01) and the level of amino terminal Procollagen ? Propeptide (PINP) (P<0.01) but had no significant effect on oestradiol (E2) (P>0.05). Zuogui pill improved bone tissue morphology, bone microstructure and bone mineral density and the degree of improvement was similar to that of the alendronate group. Compared with those of the model group, the protein expression levels of Wnt3a, β-catenin and Runx2 in the high-dose, middle-dose and low-dose Zuogui pill groups and alendronate sodium groups were significantly increased (P < 0.05).
Conclusion: Zuogui pill has a bone protective effect through the Wnt/β-catenin and Wnt/Runx2 pathways and has good application value in the treatment of osteoporosis.
