Objective To study the preventive and therapeutic effect of the warming kidney and astringing formula on postmenopausal osteoporosis. Methods Postmenopausal osteoporosis model was established in SD rats using ovariectomy (OVX). After successful modeling, 40 rats were randomly divided into model group, estradiol valerate group, and high-, middle-, and low-dose warming kidney and astringing formula groups. Rats in the sham group were resected of adipose tissue only. After treatment for 2 months, bone tissue and kidney tissue morphology was observed using HE staining; the content of PICP, ICTP, CTX and NTX were determined by ELISA. The expression of type I collagen (Col I) and cathepsin K (Cath K) in bone tissue was determined by immunohistochemistry. Results Compared with those in sham group, serum ICTP, NTX and CTX were all significantly increased (P<0.01) in the model group. The histomorphological change of the bone in the model group was consistent with osteoporosis, and the kidney tissue has undergone inflammatory changes; the expression of Cath K in bone tissue was increased (P<0.01), and the expression of Col I protein was significantly decreased (P<0.01). Compared with the model group, the levels of serum ICTP, NTX and CTX were significantly decreased (P<0.05), and the decrease in the high dose warming kidney and astringing formula group was significantly greater than that in the medium and low dose groups. The serum PICP content in the middle and high dose groups of warming kidney and astringing formula was significantly increased (P<0.01). Bone tissue morphology was improved in each treatment group, and the inflammatory changes in the renal tissue were alleviated. The expression of Cath K was decreased in all treatment groups (P<0.01), and the expression of Col I protein was significantly increased (P<0.01). Conclusion The expression of Cath K of osteoclasts can be reduced by the warming kidney and astringing formula, which can inhibit the decomposition of Col I in bone matrix and play certain role in the treatment of postmenopausal osteoporosis. |