title: Comparison of chemical compositions and osteoprotective effects of different sections of velvet antler.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Velvet antlers (VA) have been claimed for centuries to have numerous medical benefits including strengthen bones. To investigate and compare the anti-osteoporotic activities from different sections of VA.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fresh VA prepared from farmed sika deers (Cervus nippon) was divided into upper (VAU), middle (VAM), and basal (VAB) sections. The chemical constituents and anti-osteoporotic effect of different sections from VA were evaluated using ovariectomized rats.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Levels of water-soluble extracts, diluted alcoholic extract, amino acids, testosterone, insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-1 and testosterone plus estradiol significantly differed among the different sections. Levels of these constituents were significantly higher in the upper section than in the basal section. Moreover, levels of testosterone and IGF-1 of the VAM were also significantly higher than those of the VAB. Calcium level increased downward from the tip with statistical significance. The strength of vertebrae increased in all VA-treated groups compared to the control, but only treatment with VAU and VAM increased the strength of the femur and the microarchitecure of the trabecular bone. Alkaline phosphatase levels of VAU- and VAM-treated groups significantly decreased, but osteocalcin did not significantly change. Moreover, VAU and VAM dose-dependently increased proliferation and mineralization of MC3T3-E1 cells.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our study provides strong evidence for the regional differences in the effectiveness of velvet antler in treating osteoporosis. However, further studies are needed to elucidate the bioactive chemical constituents associated with the anti-osteoporotic effects of velvet antler.
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, 250 Wu-Hsing Street, Taipei City 11031, Taiwan; Orthopedics Research Center, Taipei Medical University Hospital, 252 Wu-Hsing Street, Taipei City 11031, Taiwan. Electronic address: m003089010@tmu.edu.tw.
authors.forename: Sung-Hui
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Tseng
authors.affiliation: Graduate Institute of Pharmacognosy, College of Pharmacy, Taipei Medical University, 250 Wu-Hsing Street, Taipei City 11031, Taiwan. Electronic address: tim0603kimo@yahoo.com.tw.
authors.forename: Chun-Hsien
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Sung
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Biopharmaceuticals, College of Life Sciences, National Chiayi University, 300 Syuefu Rd., Chiayi City 60004, Taiwan. Electronic address: lgchen@mail.ncyu.edu.tw.
authors.forename: Lih-Geeng
authors.initials: LG
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Department of Food Science, National Quemoy University, 1 Daxue Rd., Jinning Township, Kinmen County 89250, Taiwan. Electronic address: lai@kmit.edu.tw.
authors.forename: Ying-Jang
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Lai
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Biopharmaceuticals, College of Life Sciences, National Chiayi University, 300 Syuefu Rd., Chiayi City 60004, Taiwan. Electronic address: s0970602@mail.ncyu.edu.tw.
authors.forename: Wei-Shun
authors.initials: WS
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, Chang Gung University, 259 Wen-Hwa 1st Road, Kwei-Shan Township, Taoyuan County 33302, Taiwan. Electronic address: hcs@mail.cgu.edu.tw.
authors.forename: Hsin-Ching
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Sung
authors.affiliation: Orthopedics Research Center, Taipei Medical University Hospital, 252 Wu-Hsing Street, Taipei City 11031, Taiwan; School of Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, Taipei Medical University, 250 Wu-Hsing Street, Taipei City 11031, Taiwan. Electronic address: crystal@tmu.edu.tw.
authors.forename: Ching-Chiung
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D016475:3T3 Cells; D000818:Animals; D000999:Antlers / Q000737:chemistry; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D015519:Bone Density / Q000187:drug effects*; D001842:Bone and Bones / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism; D003670:Deer; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004958:Estradiol / Q000737:chemistry; D005260:Female; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I / Q000737:chemistry; D008516:Medicine, Chinese Traditional; D051379:Mice; D010024:Osteoporosis / Q000517:prevention & control*; D010052:Ovariectomy; D011897:Random Allocation; D051381:Rats; D013739:Testosterone / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D013739:Testosterone; D004958:Estradiol; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I; D002118:Calcium
keywords: 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide; ALP; Alkaline phosphatase; BV/TV; DPD; ELISA; ES; FBS; GC; HPLC; IGF; MC3T3-E1 cells; MS; MTT; Micro-computerized tomography analysis; OVX; Osteocalcin; Ovariectomy; RLX; SMI; Tb.N; Tb.Sp; Tb.Th; VA; VAB; VAM; VAU; Velvet antler; alkaline phosphatase; bone volume over the total volume; deoxypyridinoline; enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay; ethinylestradiol; fetal bovine serum; gas chromatography; high-performance liquid chromatography; insulin-like growth factor; mass spectroscopy; ovariectomy; raloxifen; structure model index; trabecular number; trabecular separation; trabecular thickness; velvet antlers; velvet antlers basal section; velvet antlers middle section; velvet antlers upper section; α-MEM; α-modified minimal essential medium