Oviductus Ranae protein hydrolyzate prevents menopausal osteoporosis by regulating TGFß/BMP2 signaling.

PURPOSE: It is known that menopausal osteoporosis (MOP) is the most typical form of osteoporosis, which is characterized by low bone mass and microstructure damage of the bone tissue, leading to increased bone fragility and risk of fracture. This study aimed to evaluate the protective effects of Oviductus Ranae protein hydrolyzate (ORPH) on the MOP in vivo. METHODS: Osteoporosis model was induced by ovariectomy, treated with ORPH 150 or 75 mg kg-1. Body weight and bone mineral density (BMD) of rats were measured at the beginning and the end of the experiment, and femoral maximum load was determined immediately after killing. The expression levels of alkaline phosphatase (ALP), Smad4, tartrate acid phosphatase (TRAP), BMP2, Runx2, CPB, ColI and osteocalcin were examined by RT-PCR or western-blotting. HE staining was used to observe the pathological changes in the femurs. Immunohistochemistry was used to detect the expression of ALP and BMP2. All data were analyzed by SPSS 13.0. RESULTS: The results revealed that ORPH had no effect on the weight of normal and osteoporotic rats. ORPH could significantly improve the femur BMD and increase the maximum load of the osteoporotic rats. ORPH could significantly upregulate the expression level of bone formation makers, ALP, osteocalcin, ColI, and Runx2, and downregulate the expression level of bone resorption marker, TRAP. In the ORPH group, the expression levels of BMP2, Smad4, and CPB of key proteins in the TGFß/BMP2 signaling pathway were significantly upregulated. In addition, immunohistochemistry showed that ALP and BMP2 expression in femurs of the ORPH group was stranger. H&E staining showed that ORPH (150 mg kg-1) significantly increased the thickness of trabeculae and decreased fracture risk. CONCLUSION: Collectively, ORPH plays a role in the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis, which may be a potential anti-osteoporosis drug.

[Effects of deer tendons collagen on osteoporosis rats induced by retinoic acid].

OBJECTIVE: To study the effects of deer tendons collagen on osteoporosis rats induced by retinoic acid. METHODS: Male Wistar rats were randomly divided into normal control group, model control group, deer tendons collagen high, medium and low-dose groups, osteoporosis rats of retinoic acid-induced were set up. Changes of body weight, bone weight, bone mineral density, bone histomorphometry, plasma phosphorus, calcium, alkaline phosphatase (ALP), bone mechanics were measured before and after treatment of deer tendons collagen. RESULTS: Compared with model control group,after treated by deer tendons collagen, body weight, bone mineral density, bone weight was increased in varying degrees, bone histomorphometry parameters were significantly different, the ALP in plasma was significantly reduced, contents of Ca, P were increased, all indicators of bone mechanics were significantly higher. CONCLUSION: Deer tendons collagen can prevent and treat retinoic acid-induced osteoporosis of rats.