Effects of Gagamdokhwalgisang-Tang(GD;加減獨活奇生湯) on the Morphometric Changes of Femur and the Factors Related with Bone Metabolism in Ovariectomized Rats

가감독활지생탕(加減獨活奇生湯)이 난소적출 흰쥐 대퇴골의 형태계측학적 변화 및 골대사 관련인자에 미치는 영향

Purpose : This study was carried out to investigate the effects of Gagamdokhwalgisang-Tang on the morphometric changes of femur, and on the hormones and cytokines associated with bone metabolism in overiectomized rats. Methods : Twenty-four female Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into sham operated group(normal) ovariectomized group(control), and treated with extract of GD 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 ratio, femur ash weight femur ash/body weight ratio cross sectional area of compact bone and concellous bone of femur) and histopathological examination were performed at 8 weeks after ovariectomy. Estrogen, Alkaline Phosphatase(ALP) and cytokine(Tumor necrosis $factor-{\alpha}$, $Interleukin-l{\beta}$, Inerleukin-6) assay were performed at 8 weeks after ovariectomy. Results : 1. The body weight of control and treated group was significantly increased(p<<0.001) compared with the normal group at 8 weeks. 2. The femur weight and femur/body weight ratio of treated group were significantly increased(p<<0.05, p<<0.01) compared with the control group at 8 weeks. 3. The femur ash weight showed no significantly different changes, but femur ash/body weight ratio of treated group was significantly increased(p<<0.05) compared with the control group at 8 weeks. 4. In the cross sectional area of cancellous bone of femoral body, the treated group was significantly increased(p<<0.001) compared with the control group at 8 weeks. 5. The serum estrogen level of treated group showed no significantly different changes compared with the control group at 8 weeks. 6. The serum ALP activity of treated group was significantly decreased(p<<0.01) compared with the control group at 8 weeks. 7. The serum Tumor necrosis $factor-{\alpha}(TNF-{\alpha})$ level of treated group was significantly decreased(p<<0.05) compared with the control group at 8 weeks. 8. The serum $Interleukin-l{\beta}(IL-1{\beta})$ level of treated group was significantly decreased(n<<0.001) compared with the control group at 8 weeks. 9. The serum Interleukin-6(IL-6) level of treated group was significantly decreased(P<<0.01)compared with the control group at 8 weeks. Conclusion : These results indicate that GD inhibits bone resorption in ovariectomized rats. And the major inhibitory mechanism may be related to the inhibitory effects of GD on the secretion of $TNF-{\alpha}$, $IL-1{\beta}$ and IL-6 in the pathogenesis of osteoporosis in estrogen deficient rats.