Objective To investigate the effect and mechanism of Yishenjiangu Cream Formula on bone metabolism in ovariectomized osteoporosis rats. Methods 50 female SD rats were randomly divided into sham operation group, model group, Yishenjiangu low-dose group, Yishenjiangu high-dose group and positive drug group. Rats in sham operation group and model group were gavaged with 10 mL/(kg·d)of saline; rats in Yishenjiangu low-dose and high-dose groups were administered with 2 g/ (kg·d) and 13 g/ (kg·d) Yishenjiangu Cream Formula respectively; rats in positive drug group were gavaged with 6.25 mg/ (kg·w) alendronate D3 tablets. After 12 weeks of treatment, the bone mineral density (BMD) of lumbar spine and the maximum compressive load of lumbar spine were detected. tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRACP), osteoprotegerin (OPG), type I procollagen amino-terminal peptide (PINP), type I collagen carboxy-terminal peptide (CTX-Ⅰ) in serum were tested by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The mRNA and protein expression of Notch1, Notch2, Jagged1 and Jagged2 were detected with Real-time PCR and Western blotting in bone tissue. The mRNA of OPG, RANK, RANKL and TRAF6 were detected with Real-time PCR in bone tissue. Results After 12-week treatment with high-dose Yishenjiangu Cream Formula, the BMD, maximum compressive load of lumbar spine, the serum levels of PINP and OPG, the mRNA and protein expression of Notch1, Notch2, Jagged1 and Jagged2, the relative mRNA levels of OPG in bone tissue were significantly increased (P<0.05), whereas the serum levels of TRACP and CTX-Ⅰ, the relative mRNA levels of RANKL, RANK, TRAF6 were were significantly decreased (P<0.05), compared with the model group. Conclusion High-dose Yishenjiangu Cream Formula can improve bone mineral density, bone strength and bone metabolism in ovariectomized osteoporosis rats, and its mechanism may be related to Notch pathway and OPG/RANKL/RANK system. |