| Objective The effect of Mongolian medicine Narenmandula on bone microstructure and bone formation in ovariectomized osteoporosis rat model was observed, and its anti-osteoporosis effect and mechanism were preliminarily discussed. Methods Thirty female rats were randomly divided into sham surgery group, model group, and Mongolian medicine Narenmandu low-, medium-, and high-dose group, with 6 rats per group. Osteoporosis model rats were established with ovariectomy. After successful model preparation, rats in Mongolian medicine group received Mongolian medicine with gastric irrigation. Rats in sham surgery group received the same volume of normal saline. After 12 consecutive weeks, micro-CT, bone mechanics, and HE staining were performed on femurs. The expressions of Wnt and β-catenin proteins was detected in rats, respectively. ALP staining and mineralization staining were detected after intervention with low-, medium-, and high-concentrations of drug-containing serum from 1-day-old rat skulls. The ALP secretion and mineralized nodule size were observed. The expression of Wnt and β-catenin proteins was detected. Results Micro-CT results showed that the density of bone trabecular in the Mongolian drug group increased in the model rat femurs. The bone mechanical analysis showed that the load and stiffness of bone mechanics improved in the Mongolian medicine group, and they were significant the high- and middle-dose group (P<0.01, P<0.05). The results of HE staining showed that the pathological changes of trabecular bone were significantly improved in the Mongolian drug groups. Western blotting results suggested that the expressions of Wnt and β-catenin proteins in the Mongolian drug groups increased significantly (P<0.0001). The Mongolian drug-containing serum promoted alkaline phosphatase secretion, mineralized nodule formation, and Wnt and β-catenin protein expressions in the Mongolian drug groups (P<0.0001). Conclusion Mongolian medicine Narenmandula improves the bone microstructure of rats in the ovariectomized osteoporosis model. Its anti-osteoporosis effect may be related to the regulation of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway. |