| Objective To observe the effect of puerarin on bone mass and bone mineral density (BMD) on aged female rats treated with letrozole, and to explore the possible mechanism. Methods Thirty 24-month-old female SD rats were randomly divided into three groups: control group (CON group), letrozole group (LQC group), which was treated with 0.1 mg/kg letrozole every week, and Puerarin + letrozole group (GGS+LQC group), which was treated with 50 mg/kg puerarin per day combined with 0.1 mg/kg letrozole per week for 12 weeks. After treatment, micro-CT, Masson staining sections, serological detection, and Western blotting were used to observe the therapeutic effect and the possible mechanism. Results After 12 weeks of treatment, the number of bone trabeculae and BMD in GGS+LQC group were significantly improved compared with those in LQC group. BMD, BV/TV, Tb.N, Tb.Th, and Tb.Sp in GGS+LQC group were significantly better than those in CON group. After 12 weeks of treatment, the levels of CTX-1 and PINP in GGS+LQC group were significantly lower than those in LQC group (P<0.05). Compared with LQC group, OPG/RANKL and Wnt/ β-catenin signal pathway were activated, OPG, Wnt3 α, and β-catenin levels were significantly increased, and RANKL level was significantly decreased in GGS+LQC group (P<0.05). Conclusion Puerarin reverses the harmful effects of letrozole on the bone of aged female rats by activating OPG/RANKL and Wnt/β-catenin signal pathway. |