title: Electroacupuncture prevents ovariectomy-induced osteoporosis in rats: a randomised controlled trial.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Electroacupuncture (EA) treatment has been shown to increase bone mineral density (BMD) in ovariectomised (OVX) rats; however, the underlying mechanisms remain unclear.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To systematically evaluate the effects of EA on OVX rats and the Wnt/β-catenin signalling pathway.
  
  
  METHODS
  Three-month-old female Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into three different groups (n=10 each): sham operated control (sham operated), ovariectomy (OVX) and ovariectomy with EA treatment (OVX+EA). Rats in the OVX+EA group received 12-week EA treatments.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Serum bone-specific alkaline phosphatase level (p<0.01), BMD of the proximal femoral metaphysis and the fifth lumbar (L5) vertebral body (both, p<0.05) and maximum load and energy to failure of L5 vertebral body (both p<0.01) were significantly higher in the OVX+EA group than in the OVX group. Trabecular area, trabecular width and trabecular number were significantly higher in the OVX+EA group by 66.9%, 29.2% and 30.3%, respectively, than in the OVX group (all, p<0.01). Trabecular separation was 31.9% lower in the OVX+EA group than in the OVX group (p<0.01). Quantitative real-time reverse transcription polymerised chain reaction indicated that the expressions of mRNAs for low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein 5 and β-catenin were significantly increased in the OVX+EA group, as compared with the OVX group (p<0.01 and p<0.05, respectively).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study demonstrates that EA can prevent OVX-induced bone loss and deterioration of bone architecture and strength by stimulating the Wnt/β-catenin signalling pathway. These findings suggest that EA may bet a promising adjunct method for inhibiting OVX-induced osteoporosis in clinical settings.
authors.affiliation: Rehabilitation Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Department of Rehabilitation, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Shiju
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Hua
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.forename: Lu
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Xia
authors.forename: Huifang
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Yuxi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Qin
authors.forename: Chengqi
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: He
mesh_terms: D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase / Q000097:blood*; D000818:Animals; D015519:Bone Density; D001842:Bone and Bones / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000378:metabolism; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D015671:Electroacupuncture; D005260:Female; D005269:Femur / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D060492:Low Density Lipoprotein Receptor-Related Protein-5 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000378:metabolism; D015663:Osteoporosis, Postmenopausal / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000517:prevention & control*; D010052:Ovariectomy; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D011897:Random Allocation; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D051176:beta Catenin / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D060492:Low Density Lipoprotein Receptor-Related Protein-5; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D051176:beta Catenin; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase