title: MR spectroscopy for assessing the effects of oxytocin on marrow adipogenesis induced by glucocorticoid in rabbits.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Previous studies suggest that oxytocin (OT) negatively modulates adipogenesis while promoting osteogenesis in vitro. Because of its effects on marrow stromal cells, OT might have potential utility in therapy for glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis (GIO).
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To explore the effects of OT on marrow adipogenesis in a rabbit model of GIO.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-six-month-old female New Zealand rabbits were randomly assigned to the control, GIO, and GIO + OT groups. Magnetic resonance (MR) spectroscopy and multi-detector computed tomography (MDCT) were performed to detect marrow fat content (MFC) and bone mineral density (BMD) at baseline, and 1, 2, and 3 months. After 3 months of treatment, marrow adipocytes were quantitatively evaluated by histopathology.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the GIO group, MFC substantially increased from 34.1% to 43.2% at month 1, and it was maintained until month 3 (by 59.2%, all P <0.01). MFC values in the GIO group were significantly different from the control and OT-treated groups over time. Early OT treatment reversed marrow adiposity to levels of the controls. BMD values were significantly lower in the GIO group at months 2 and 3 compared to the controls; however, partial recovery of vertebral BMD (87.1% of baseline) and femoral BMD (89.3% of baseline) in the OT-treated group were observed. The mean diameter and density of adipocyte and percentage of adipocyte area increased by 30.0%, 70.1%, and 88.9%, respectively (all P <0.05) in the GIO group, but remained unchanged in the OT-treated group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Early OT treatment was sufficient to eliminate glucocorticoid-induced marrow adiposity.
authors: Department of Radiology, Shijingshan Hospital, Beijing, PR China lbqradiology@163.com.
authors: Baoqing
authors: B
authors: Li
authors: Clinical Laboratory, Beijing Hospital, The First Affiliated College of Peking University, Beijing, PR China.
authors: Yuqing
authors: Y
authors: Jiang
authors: Department of Radiology, Shijingshan Hospital, Beijing, PR China.
authors: Jinlei
authors: J
authors: Sun
authors: Department of Radiology, Shijingshan Hospital, Beijing, PR China.
authors: Jie
authors: J
authors: Liang
authors: Department of Radiology, Shijingshan Hospital, Beijing, PR China.
authors: Yulian
authors: Y
authors: Jin
mesh_terms: D017667:Adipocytes / Q000187:drug effects*; D050156:Adipogenesis / Q000187:drug effects*; D000818:Animals; D015519:Bone Density; D001853:Bone Marrow / Q000187:drug effects*; D001842:Bone and Bones / Q000187:drug effects; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; D008775:Methylprednisolone / Q000494:pharmacology; D061330:Multidetector Computed Tomography; D010121:Oxytocin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011817:Rabbits
chemical_list: D005938:Glucocorticoids; D010121:Oxytocin; D008775:Methylprednisolone
keywords: Magnetic resonance (MR) spectroscopy; glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis; marrow fat content; oxytocin