[Effects of Qiang Gu Kang Wei prescription on morphology of bone in rats under simulated weightlessness].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate effects of Qiang Gu Kang Wei prescription on bone morphology in tail-suspended rats.


METHODS
Rats were tail-suspended (-30 degrees) for 21 d to simulate weightlessness. The effects of this prescription on thickness of periost and cortex at epiphyseal plate of tibial shaft and 3 mm under it were examined. The effects of this prescription on histology and ultrastructure of tibia were also observed.


RESULTS
Compared with the normal control, cortex at both epiphyseal plate of tibial shaft and 3 mm under it in suspended rats thinned significantly (P<0.01 or P<0.05). Histological observation showed that in bone of suspended rats, uncalcific matrix was more, bone cells' number was lower and their appearance was more infantile, osteoblasts were less and smaller, while osteoclasts were more and larger, haversian system of transection also showed more irregular than in bone of normal control. Ultrastructure observation showed that the function of osteoblasts was inhabited and that of osteoclasts was active. All the three doses groups of the prescription could increase cortex at either epiphyseal plate of tibial shaft or 3 mm under it (P<0.01 or P<0.05) compared with the tail-suspended group. The appearance of bone in the three groups was improved as well under optical or electron microscope.


CONCLUSIONS
This prescription could improve abnormal change in bone morphology resulted from being tail-suspended in rats and make it normal.
Institute of Space Medico-Engineering, Beijing, China.
Yong-zhi
YZ
Li
Hong-zhi
HZ
Shi
Quan-chun
QC
Fan
Ying
Y
Tao
Gui-e
GE
Bai
Yuan-ru
YR
Duan
Jun-shui
JS
Xie
D000818:Animals; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004838:Epiphyses / Q000187:drug effects*; D019417:Hindlimb Suspension; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D010006:Osteoblasts / Q000187:drug effects; D010010:Osteoclasts / Q000187:drug effects; D010521:Periosteum / Q000187:drug effects; D051381:Rats; D013977:Tibia / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D018474:Weightlessness Simulation
D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal