Epimedium-derived phytoestrogen exert beneficial effect on preventing steroid-associated osteonecrosis in rabbits with inhibition of both thrombosis and lipid-deposition

• Published in: Bone (New York, N.Y.) N.Y.), 2007-03, Vol.40 (3), p.685-692
• Main Authors: Zhang, G, Qin, L, Sheng, H, Yeung, K.W, Yeung, H.Y, Cheung, W.H, Griffith, J, Chan, C.W, Lee, K.M, Leung, K.S
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adrenal Cortex Hormones - adverse effects; Animals; Biological and medical sciences; Blood perfusion; Cardiovascular system; Diseases of the osteoarticular system; Epimedium - chemistry; Epimedium-derived phytoestrogen; Extravascular lipid deposition; Femur - blood supply; Femur - drug effects; Femur - pathology; Intravascular thrombus occlusion; Investigative techniques, diagnostic techniques (general aspects); Ischemia; Lipid Metabolism - drug effects; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Male; Medical sciences; Orthopedics; Osteonecrosis - chemically induced; Osteonecrosis - prevention & control; Phytoestrogens - therapeutic use; Phytotherapy; Plant Preparations - therapeutic use; Rabbits; Radiodiagnosis. Nmr imagery. Nmr spectrometry; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; Steroid-associated osteonecrosis; Thrombosis - prevention & control; Vascular bone diseases
• ISSN: 8756-3282; 1873-2763
• DOI: 10.1016/j.bone.2006.10.026

Abstract Objectives This study tested the effect of Epimedium-derived phytoestrogen (PE) on preventing steroid-associated osteonecrosis (ON) in rabbit model. Methods Thirty 28-week-old male New-Zealand white rabbits were divided into control group (CON; n = 14) and PE group (PE; n = 16; 5 mg/kg body weight/day) after receiving an established inductive protocol for inducing steroid-associated ON. Before and after inductive protocol, Dynamic-MRI was employed on bilateral femora for local intra-osseous perfusion, blood samples were examined for coagulation, fibrinolysis and lipid-transportation, and marrow samples were quantified for adipogenesis-gene mRNA expression. Six weeks later, bilateral femora were dissected for Micro-CT-based micro-angiography, and then ON lesion, intravascular thrombosis and extravascular fat-cell-size were examined histopathologically. Results The incidence of ON in the PE group (31%) was significantly lower than that in the CON group (93%). Compared to the CON group, local intra-osseous perfusion was maintained in the PE group. Blocked trunk vessels were seldom found in micro-angiography of the PE-treated rabbits. Thrombosis incidence and fat-cell-size were both significantly lower in the PE group than those in the CON group. During the early period after induction, indicator of coagulation, fibrinolysis, lipid-transportation and adipogenesis-gene expression were found with significantly changing pattern in the PE group compared to the CON group. Conclusion PE was able to exert beneficial effect on preventing steroid-associated ON in rabbits with inhibition of both thrombosis and lipid deposition.