| Objective To observe the effects of transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation (TEAS) on serum bone metabolic indexes and bone mineral density (BMD) in ovariectomized SD rats. Methods Thirty-two rats were randomly divided into Sham group (sham operation group), OVX group (model control group), 2 Hz group (OVX+TEAS 2 Hz group), and 50Hz group (OVX+TEAS 50 Hz group), with 8 rats in each group. Serum bone metabolic indexes, including bone specific alkaline phosphatase (BALP), type I procollagen C-terminal propeptide (PICP), type I procollagen N-terminal propeptide (PINP), type I collagen carboxyl-terminal peptide (ICTP), pyridinoline (Pyr), deoxypyridinoline (D-Pyr), and BMD were detected 3 months later. Results Compared to those in Sham group, serum BALP, PINP, PICP, ICTP, Pyr, and Dpyr in OVX group increased significantly (P<0.05). Compared to those in OVX group, serum BALP, PINP, PICP, ICTP, Pyr, and Dpyr in 2 Hz group decreased significantly. BMD in lumbar spine and right femur increased (P<0.05). Pre-BALP, PINP, PICP, and BMD in 50Hz group had no significant changes. ICTP, Pyr, and Dpyr also decreased significantly (P<0.05). Compared to that in the 50Hz group, the lumbar BMD in the 2 Hz group was higher (P<0.05). Conclusion TEAS play a role in anti-osteoporosis, probably by regulating bone resorption and bone formation indexes. The electrical stimulation with frequency of 2Hz may be more suitable for clinical prevention and treatment of osteoporosis than with 50Hz. |