• Journal of Life Science
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.249-254
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• 2008

This study was performed to investigate the effects of sea tangle (ST) extracts on serum lipid concentration in ovariectomized rats. Weight-matched female Sprague-Dawley strain rats were assigned to four groups. Three groups were surgically ovariectomized (OVX). The fourth group was sham operated. Rats were randomly assigned to the following groups: sham-operated rats (Sham), ovariectomized control rats (OVX-control), ovariectomized rats supplemented with ST at 50 mg/kg body wt (OVX-ST50) and ovariectomized rats supplemented with ST at 200 mg/kg body wt (OVX-ST200). The activities of serum GOT and GPT were increased by ovariectomized. The serum GOT levels in OVX-ST50 and OVX-ST200 groups were decreased than OVX-control group. But GPT level was only decreased in the serum of OVX-ST200 group. Serum total cholesterol and triglyceride contents decreased in sham group compared with OVX-control group by ovariectomy. Six weeks feeding of ST extract resulted in a significant lowering of serum triglyceride and lowering tendency of total cholesterol Level. The serum HDL-cholesterol was higher in ST groups than OVX-control group. These results suggest that the beneficial effect of ST extract may be used to possibly improve on the lipid metabolic syndrome of menopausal women.

• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.156-160
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• 2005

Salvia miltiorrhiza Radix root extracts (SMR) was evaluated for inhibition of the progress of bone loss induced by ovariectomy (OVX) in rats. We measured body weight and bone histomorphometry in sham, OVX and SMR-administered OVX rats. From light microscopic analyses, porous or erosive appearances were observed on the surface of trabecular bone of tibia in OVX rats, whereas those of the same bone in sham rats and in SMR-administered rats were composed of fine particles. The trabecular bone area and trabecular thickness in OVX rats were decreased by $50\%$ from those in sham rats, and these decreases were completely inhibited by administration of SMR for 7 weeks. In this study, the mechanical strength in femur neck was significantly enhanced by the treatment of SMR for 7 weeks. In OVX rats, free $T_3$ was normal in all cases, whereas free $T_4$ was significantly increased. Although there was no difference between OVX and SMR-administered rat in $T_3$ levels, we have found significant difference between them in $T_4$ level. These results strongly suggest that SMR may be beneficial for preventing bone loss in OVX rats.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.83-95
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• 2007

Objectives : The present study had been undertaken to investigate the effects of Korean Corni Fructus(KCF) on treatment of osteoporosis in ovariectomized rats. Method : In this experiment, the rats were ovariectomized. Rats were administered by KCF. The levels of bone mineral density, osteocalcin, ALP, calcium, phosphorus in serum, calcium, phosphorus, deoxypyridinoline in urine, calcium, phosphorus, ash weight of bone, body weight and uterus weight were measured. Results : The levels of femoral and fibula-tibial bone mineral density were significantly increased in comparison with OVX group at 4, 8 weeks in KCF group. The levels of serum osteoclacin showed significant decrease in comparison with OVX group at 4, 8 weeks in KCF group. The levels of serum ALP showed significant decrease in comparison with OVX group at 4 week in KCF group. The levels of serum calcium showed significant increase in comparison with OVX group at 8 week in KCF group. The levels of urine calcium and phosphoruls showed significant decrease in comparison with OVX group in KCF group. The levels of femoral and fibula-tibial calcium didn't show significant changes in comparison with OVX group in KCF group. The levels of femoral and fibula-tibial phosphorus didn't show significant changes in comparison with OVX group in KCF group. The levels of femoral and fibula-tibial ash weight didn't show significant changes in comparison with OVX group in KCF group. The levels of body weight were significantly decreased in comparison with OVX group at 4, 8 weeks in KCF group. The levels of uterus weight were significantly increased in comparison with OVX group in KCF group. Conclusion : Reviewing these experimetal results, it appeared that KCF had efficacy on treatment of osteoporosis.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Precision Engineering
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• v.24 no.1 s.190
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• pp.110-117
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• 2007

This study investigated changes of mechanical characteristics of the trabecular and cortical bone in the lumbar vertebrae of the ovariectomised (OVX) rat. In previous researches, there were many studies for morphology of osteoporotic bones based on Micro-Computed Tomography (Micro-CT). However, there were few studies for detecting and tracking changes of mechanical characteristics of the trabecular and cortical bone in the lumbar vertebrae of the OVX rat. For this study, the 4th lumbar of the OVX rat (female Sprague-Dawley) was utilized as a specimen. An OVX rat was scanned at week 0 (just before surgery), at week 4, and week 8 after surgery. Micro-finite element (${\mu}-FE$) analysis was used to investigate mechanical characteristics of the trabecular and cortical bone in the lumbar vertebrae for an OVX rat. When the OVX rat (at week 8) was compared with the OVX rat (at week 0), the structural modulus of cortical and trabecualr bone was decreased by 52% and 99%, respectively. This study showed the change of mechanical characteristics of cortical bone as well as trabecular bone of an OVX rat. Detecting and tracking changes of mechanical characteristics could greatly contribute to an experiment test for the trabecular and cortical bone in the lumbar vertebrae of an OVX rat by using In-vivo Micro-CT.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.8 no.5
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• pp.539-543
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• 2014

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Soy isoflavones are structurally similar to estrogen and bind to estrogen receptors, suggesting that they exhibit estrogenic activities; therefore, they are referred to as phytoestrogens. Fermentation may affect the bioavailability of isoflavones altering soy isoflavone glycosides in the form of aglycones. Thus, this study investigated the effects of fermented soybeans by Rhizopus oligosporus on bone metabolism in both young rats as a pilot test and in ovariectomized (ovx) old rats as a model of menopause. MATERIALS/METHODS: In the pilot test, a total of 24 seven-week-old female Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were fed one of three diets for a period of four weeks: casein, unfermented soybean product, or fermented soybean product by R. oligosporus. In the ovx rat model, 20-week-old SD rats weighing 260-290 g underwent either sham-operation (n = 10) or bilateral ovariectomy (n = 30) and were then fed the AIN-93M diet for one week. Thereafter, rats were fed sham-casein, ovx-casein, ovx-soybean, or ovx-fermented soybean diet for five weeks. After decapitation, femoral bones were isolated and preserved in 9% formalin for assessment of bone mineral density (BMD), bone mineral content (BMC), and bone-breaking strength (BBS). RESULTS: Ovx rats showed significantly increased weight gain and decreased uterine wet weight. Of particular interest, ovx rats fed fermented soybeans showed increased uterine wet weights compared to control rats. Fermented soybean diet caused a significant increase in plasma 17-${\beta}$ estradiol concentrations in young rats, and 17-${\beta}$ estradiol levels were enhanced in ovx rats to match those of sham-operated ones. Significantly lower femoral BMD and BMC were observed in ovx rats compared to sham-operated controls, whereas bone areas did not differ statistically among the groups. In addition, BBS tended to be increased in ovx rats fed soybeans and fermented soybeans. CONCLUSIONS: Supplementation of fermented soybeans could have preventive and therapeutic effects against osteoporosis in postmenopausal women.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.156-161
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• 2014

It has been reported that safflower seeds have preventive effects against osteoporosis. Recently, safflower buds (SB) were found to have more useful functional ingredients than safflower seeds. In the current study, we evaluated the anti-osteoporosis effects of SB diet in ovariectomized (OVX) rats. The rats were divided into five groups; sham operated group, OVX alone group, OVX plus $17{\beta}$-estradiol ($E^2$ $10{\mu}g/kg$, i.p.) and OVX plus SB diet feeding group (0.3% or 1%). Feeding of SB diet (0.3% or 1%) to OVX rats markedly increased bone mineral density (BMD) of femurs, compared to the OVX group. The OVX rats exhibited a marked increase in trabecular separation (Tb.Sp) and this change was inhibited by the feeding of SB diet, similar to that seen with OVX+E2 group. Moreover, feeding of SB diet to OVX rats decreased the markers of bone turnover, including osteocalcin and alkaline phosphatase (ALP). These results suggest that SB extract has a bone sparing effect in OVX-induced trabecular bone loss and prevents deterioration of bone microarchitecture by suppressing the rate of bone turnover. Therefore, SB may be useful for preserving bone mass and structure in estrogen deficient women with a potential role in reducing postmenopausal osteoporosis.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.317-322
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• 2012

In this study we investigated the effects of supplementation with fucoidan from brown alga on the function of natural-killer (NK) cells to evaluate the possibility as an immunomodulator in ovariectomized (OVX) rats. A total of 18 female Wistar rats (six weeks) were used this study and 12 rats were OVX, and the rest of rats were sham-operated. The sham and one OVX group were fed standard diet, and the remaining OVX group received fucoidan (0.05% supplemented diet). After 12 weeks of supplementation, rats were sacrificed to assess the tumoricidal activity of the NK cells and the NO-iNOS regulation from splenocytes. The mass of body and the immune organs such as spleen and thymus were also studied. In OVX rats, body and thymus weights increased, however fucoidan supplementation did not change the body mass and organs weight compared to OVX group. Fucoidan supplementation increased NK cell activity and reduced NO-iNOS production in OVX rats. Ex vivo treatment of fucoidan increased NK cell activity in splenocytes from shame and OVX rats. Ex vivo, we confirmed that fucoidan partially reduced the NK cell activity in the presence of iNOS inhibitors in OVX-splenocytes. These results indicate fucoidan supplementation has a NK cell tumoricidal activity, which are regulated by the iNOS production in OVX rats. This suggests that fucoidan is useful for potential therapeutic strategies as a nutrient in regulating the NK cells in postmenopausal osteoporosis patients.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.28 no.6
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• pp.704-709
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• 2015

Safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) seeds have long been clinically used in Korea to promote bone formation and prevent osteoporosis. In addition, the safflower buds (SB) were found to have more useful functional ingredients than safflower seed. Thus, we investigated the preventive effects of SB diet in ovariectomized (OVX) rats. The rats were divided into five groups; sham operated group, OVX alone group, OVX plus 17β-estradiol (E₂ 10 μg/kg, i.p.) and OVX plus SB diet feeding group (0.3% or 1%). Feeding of SB diet (0.3% or 3%) to OVX rats markedly increased trabecular formation in femur compared to OVX rats. Feeding of SB diet (0.3% or 3%) to OVX rats also decreased TRAP activity compared to OVX rats. These results suggest that SB diets have bone sparing effects by the decrease of osteoclast activity. We also observed that OVX rats fed with SB diet (0.3% or 3%) exhibited the decrease of calcium and phosphorus in serum compared to OVX-induced rats. Therefore, SB may be beneficial for the patients of osteoporosis, especially in postmenopausal women.

• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• v.9 no.4
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• pp.367-373
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• 2004

The prevalence of type-2 diabetes increases remarkably in post-menopausal women, possibly because insulin secretion fails to compensate for the insulin resistance induced in various tissues by estrogen insufficiency. However, this has not been fully defined. Therefore, the present study investigated whether an ovariectomy (OVX) would increase insulin resistance and decrease the $\beta$-cell function and mass in female rats with and without a $90\%$ pancreatectomy (Px). Female rats aged 15 weeks were divided into four groups: 1) OVX + Px, 2) SOVX (sham operation of OVX) + Px, 3) OVX + SPx (sham operation of Px), and 4) SOVX + SPx, and given a $30\%$ fat diet for 8 weeks. At the end of the experimental period, the islet function and insulin resistance were determined using a hyperglycemic clamp and a euglycemic hyperinsulinemic clamp, respectively. The OVX only increased the body weight in the SPx rats, which was partially related to the food intake. Yet, the OVX did increase the peripheral insulin resistance, while the Px increased this resistance further. The OVX and Px both exacerbated the islet function, as measured by the insulin secretion pattern, while delaying and decreasing the first-phase insulin secretion. The OVX only decreased the proliferation of $\beta$-cells in the Px rats, while increasing apoptosis in both the Px and SPx rats. As a result, the OVX decreased the $\beta$-cell mass in the Px rats, but increased the mass in the SPx rats. In conclusion, an OVX was found to accelerate the development and progression of diabetes by increasing the insulin resistance and decreasing the $\beta$-cell mass. Therefore, menopause can be a risk factor for type-2 diabetes, mainly due to a deceased proliferation of $\beta$-cells.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.15 no.5 s.72
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• pp.834-839
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• 2005

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of three different mulberry cultivars extracts on serum lipid contents in ovariectomized estrogen-deficient rats. Sprague-Dawley female rats were randomly assigned to the following groups: sham-operated rats (sham), ovariectomized control rats (OVX-control), ovariectomized rats supplemented with $ 80\% $ ethyl alcohol extracts from various kinds of Tajikistan mulberry (OVX-TM), Korea mulberry (OVX-KM) and China mulberry (OVX-CM) at 200mg/kg bw/day, respectively. The mulberry extracts were orally administrated at 1mL per day. The body weights of OVX rats were significantly heavier than the sham-operated rats at all values (p <0.05). The ovariectomy caused an expected increasing in the levels of serum total cholesterol and triglyceride. The serum HDL-cholesterol level on the OVX-TM, OVX-KM and OVX-CM groups were higher than in the OVX-control group.