Volume 30, Issue 2, 2021
DOI: 10.24205/03276716.2020.4058
Study on the Effect of Psoralen on Osteoporosis in Ovariectomized Rats
Abstract
Objective: The bilateral ovaries of rats were removed to cause hypoestrogen to establish a rat model of osteoporosis. The rats were administered with different doses of Psoralen gavage to observe its effect on improving osteoporosis in rats after ovariectomy. The possible mechanism was explored.
Methods: In vivo experiment: the rat bilateral ovaries were removed to establish a model. After 12 weeks of drug intervention, specimens were obtained to compare the weight of the uterus, and the bone transformation indicators were measured by ELISA. In vitro experiment: Osteoblast precursor cells MC3T3-E1 were cultured, then added with osteogenic induction solution to induce differentiation. The cells were intervened with different concentrations of Psoralen to induce differentiation and then cultured for 21 days. The number of calcium nodules was compared through Alizarin Red staining. Western blotting was used to detect the expressions of ERK/Wnt/?-catenin signaling pathway-related proteins in total cell protein.
Results: 12 weeks after the removal of bilateral ovaries, ovariectomized rats developed osteoporosis. Psoralen intervention can reduce bone loss in ovariectomized rats, enhance the viability of MC3T3-E1 cells, and promote their osteogenic differentiation. After different concentrations of Psoralen intervention, the expressions of ERK1/2, ?-catenin, BMP-2, p-ERK1/2 proteins increased, while the expressions of LPL, GSK-3? and PPAR-y proteins decreased, indicating that Psoralen improved bone quality. The mechanism of porosity improvement may be related to Psoralen regulating ERK/Wnt/?-catenin signaling pathway-related proteins to promote osteoblast differentiation.
Conclusion: Simple hypoestrogen can cause osteoporosis in rats, and the intervention of Psoralen can protect the bones. The anti-osteoporosis mechanism may be related to its regulation of ERK/Wnt/b-catenin signaling pathway to promote the formation of osteoblasts.
Keywords
Psoralen; Osteoporosis; ERK/Wnt/b-catenin signaling pathway