Influence of ferutinin on bone metabolism in ovariectomized rats. II: role in recovering osteoporosis.
The aim of the present investigation, which represents an extension of a previous study, was to investigate the effect of ferutinin in recovering severe osteoporosis due to estrogen deficiency after rat ovariectomy and to compare phytoestrogen effects with those of estrogens commonly used in hormone replacement therapy (HRT) by women with postmenopausal osteoporosis. The animal model used was the Sprague-Dawley ovariectomized rat. Ferutinin was orally administered (2 mg kg(-1) per day) for 30 or 60 days starting from 2 months after ovariectomy (i.e. when osteoporosis was clearly evident) and its effects were compared with those of estradiol benzoate (1.5 microg per rat twice a week, subcutaneously injected) vs. vehicle-treated ovariectomized (OVX) and sham-operated (SHAM) rats. Histomorphometric analyses were performed on trabecular bone of lumbar vertebrae (4th and 5th) and distal femoral epiphysis, as well as on cortical bone of femoral diaphysis. Bone histomorphometric analyses showed that ferutinin seems to display the same effects on bone mass recorded with estradiol benzoate, thus suggesting that it could enhance the recovery of bone loss due to severe estrogen deficiency in OVX rats. On this basis, the authors propose listing ferutinin among the substances representing a potential alternative for the treatment of postmenopausal osteoporosis, which occurs as a result of estrogen deficiency.
Ferretti
Marzia
M
Department of Anatomy and Histology, Section of Human Anatomy, University of Modena and RE, Modena, Italy.
Bertoni
Laura
L
Cavani
Francesco
F
Zavatti
Manuela
M
Resca
Elisa
E
Carnevale
Gianluca
G
Benelli
Augusta
A
Zanoli
Paola
P
Palumbo
Carla
C
D000818:Animals; D001565:Benzoates / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D050071:Bone Density Conservation Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001842:Bone and Bones / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D001643:Bridged Bicyclo Compounds / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002118:Calcium / Q000097:blood; D003508:Cycloheptanes / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004353:Drug Evaluation, Preclinical; D004967:Estrogens / Q000172:deficiency; D005260:Female; D005269:Femur / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008274:Magnesium / Q000097:blood; D010024:Osteoporosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D010052:Ovariectomy; D010758:Phosphorus / Q000097:blood; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012717:Sesquiterpenes / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D001565:Benzoates; D050071:Bone Density Conservation Agents; D001643:Bridged Bicyclo Compounds; D003508:Cycloheptanes; D004967:Estrogens; D012717:Sesquiterpenes; D010758:Phosphorus; C111068:4-oxy-6-(4-oxybezoyloxy)dauc-8,9-en; D008274:Magnesium; D002118:Calcium