title: DT56a (Femarelle) stimulates bone formation in female rats.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  DT56a is a natural compound for the treatment of menopausal symptoms and osteoporosis. The aim of this study was to examine the effects of long term treatment (two months) with DT56a on the skeletal tissues of intact and ovariectomised (OVX) adult rats.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty rats were divided into two groups, in one of which the rats were ovariectomised. The rats in each group were then treated for two months with DT56a, oestrogen or vehicle.
  
  
  METHODS
  University and hospital laboratories.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty rats.
  
  
  METHODS
  Histomorphometric measurements of trabecular bone volume (expressed as a percentage of total bone volume), trabecular and cortical thickness and growth plate width were recorded by a computerised system. In addition, creatine kinase (CK)-specific activity, as marker of oestrogen receptor activation, was measured in skeletal tissues and in the uterus.
  
  
  METHODS
  The changes in the histomorphometric measurements.
  
  
  RESULTS
  OVX rats developed noticeable signs of osteoporosis, namely, significant decrease in trabecular bone volume and in trabecular and cortical thickness. DT56a, like oestrogen, restored the bone structure measurements of all tested parameters in the OVX rats to the values obtained in the intact rats. In skeletal tissues, CK activity was elevated in both treatment groups. However, in the uterus DT56a did not activate oestrogen receptors while oestrogen did elevate CK activity.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  DT56a was as effective as oestrogen in reversing the bone changes caused by OVX in rats.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Endocrinology, Metabolism and Hypertension, Sourasky Medical Center and Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University, Israel.
authors.forename: Dalia
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Somjen
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Katzburg
authors.forename: Erella
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Livne
authors.forename: Israel
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Yoles
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003402:Creatine Kinase / Q000378:metabolism; D015232:Dinoprostone; D005260:Female; D010012:Osteogenesis / Q000187:drug effects*; D010052:Ovariectomy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar
chemical_list: C478341:DT56a; D010936:Plant Extracts; D003402:Creatine Kinase; D015232:Dinoprostone