title: Effects of huogu I formula (I) on correlated factors of bone regeneration in chickens with steroid-induced necrosis of femoral head.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study the mechanism of Huogu I formula (I) in treating osteonecrosis of femoral head.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty-eight healthy female Leghorn chickens were randomly divided into control group, model group and Huogu I group, and each group consisted of 16 chickens. At the meantime of model establishment, chickens of the Huogu I group were administrated with decoction, while the model and control group with distilled water by gavage. At the 8th and 16th week after medication, blood samples were obtained for blood lipid detection while both sides of femoral head were harvested for the rest of examinations. Specifically, expressions of bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP2), transforming growth factor beta1 (TGFβ(1)), Smad4 and Smad7 were evaluated by immunohistochemistry, while expression of osteoprotegerin/receptor activator of nuclear factor kappaB ligand (OPG/RANKL) mRNA was detected by in situ hybridization.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Compared with the control group, serum levels of total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) in the model group rose significantly. Positive cell counting of BMP2, TGFβ(1), Smad4 and OPG in femoral head of the model group dropped prominently. Positive cell counting of Smad7 and RANKL increased dramatically. In contrast with the model group, levels of TC, TG and LDL-C in Huogu I group reduced significantly. Positive cell counting of BMP2, TGFβ(1), Smad4 and OPG in femoral head of the Huogu I group increased prominently. Indices of Smad7 and RANKL both decreased significantly. Especially at the 8th week, these variations were more significant.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Huogu I formula is effective in promoting repair of necrotic femoral head by regulating the expressions of BMP2, TGFβ(1), Smads and OPG/RANKL of osteoclast in femoral head.
authors.affiliation: Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou, China.
authors.forename: Wei-heng
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Xiang-ying
authors.initials: XY
authors.lastname: Kong
authors.forename: Rong
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Wan
authors.forename: Chun-sheng
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Xiao
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Zhi-yao
authors.initials: ZY
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Na
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: He-ming
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D055396:Bone Morphogenetic Protein 2 / Q000378:metabolism; D001861:Bone Regeneration / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D002645:Chickens; D019902:Chondrocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D005271:Femur Head Necrosis / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D050356:Lipid Metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D010011:Osteocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D053244:Osteoprotegerin / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D053246:Receptor Activator of Nuclear Factor-kappa B / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D051901:Smad4 Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D051906:Smad7 Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D013256:Steroids / Q000494:pharmacology*; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1 / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D055396:Bone Morphogenetic Protein 2; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D053244:Osteoprotegerin; D053246:Receptor Activator of Nuclear Factor-kappa B; D051901:Smad4 Protein; D051906:Smad7 Protein; D013256:Steroids; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1