| Objective To explore the effect of Fuyuan Huoxue Decoction on the healing and vascularization of osteoporotic vertebral fracture in rats. Methods Fifty SD rats were randomly divided into 5 groups: sham operation group, model group, alendronate sodium group (0.5 mg/kg alendronate sodium), low/high dose of Fuyuan Huoxue Decoction (1.62 and 3.24 g/kg, respectively) group, with 10 rats in each group. The maximum load, maximum stress, elastic modulus, trabecular bone volume percentage (TBV%), trabecular bone absorption surface percentage (TRS%), trabecular bone average width (MTPT), and mineralization deposition rate (MAR) were compared among the five groups. Bone mineral density (BMD), quantitative amplitude attenuation (BUA), bone tissue HE staining, number of new blood vessels, vascular area, and BALP, CTX-1 protein expression were detected with a small animal bone mineral density analyzer. Results Compared to those in the sham operation group, the maximum load, maximum stress, elastic modulus, TBV%, MTPT, BMD, BUA, number of neovascularization, vascular area, and BALP protein level in the model group decreased, and TRS%, MAR, and CTX-1 protein levels increased (P<0.05). Compared to those in the model group, the maximum load, maximum stress, elastic modulus, TBV%, MTPT, BMD, BUA, number of neovascularization, vascular area, and BALP expression increased in the alendronate group and the low/high dose of Fuyuan Huoxue Decoction group. The increase was the highest in the high dose of Fuyuan Huoxue Decoction group The expression of TRS%, MAR, and CTX-1 decreased, and the decrease was the lowest in the high dose of Fuyuan Huoxue Decoction group (P<0.05). The bone tissue morphology in the high-dose group was better. Conclusion Fuyuan Huoxue Decoction improves the bone healing in osteoporotic vertebral fracture rats, promotes angiogenesis and BALP expression, and inhibits CTX-1 expression. |