| Objective To investigate the effect of Shengsuijiangu Capsule on the biomechanics of femur in rats with alcoholic osteoporosis. Methods 120 rats were randomly divided into 4 groups with 30 rats in each group. The body mass of rats in each group were compared before modeling (P>0.05), and there were no significant differences between them. The model group was treated by intragastric administration of alcohol, the blank control group was administrated with physiological saline, the western medicine control group was given physiological saline, calcium carbonate and vitamin D3 and the traditional Chinese medicine intervention group was given physiological saline and Shengsuijiangu capsule administrated by intragastric administration. After 8, 12 and 16 weeks, 10 rats from each group were sacrificed, the external diameter of the middle segment of the femur was measured with vernier caliper, and the sectional area was calculated. Then the femur three point bending test was performed using electronic universal testing machine. The indexes measured include maximum load, ultimate strength, modulus of elasticity and maximum deflection. SPSS 19.0 software was used for statistical analysis (P<0.05) and t test was performed. Results The maximum load, ultimate strength, maximum deflection and elastic modulus of the model group were significantly lower than those of the normal group (P<0.01). The western medicine control group and the traditional Chinese medicine intervention group were improved in varying degrees. The maximum load, ultimate strength and maximum deflection of the Chinese herb intervention group were better than those of the western medicine control group, but there was no significant difference between the two groups for the elastic modulus (P>0.05). Conclusion Shengsuijiangu capsule could significantly improve bone biomechanical properties, increase bone hardness and bone elasticity, and could effectively prevent and control alcohol induced osteoporosis and improve bone biomechanical properties in rats. |