Influence of alpha-escin on skeletal changes in ovariectomized rats

The aim of the present study is to investigate the influence of alpha-escin (35 mg/kg per os daily; administered for 4 weeks) on the development of osteopenia caused by bilateral ovariectomy in 3-month-old female Wistar rats. The experiments were carried out on four groups of animals: I (C)--control sham operated rats, II (OVX)--ovariectomized rats, III (E)--sham operated rats which were administered alpha-escin, IV (OVX + E)--ovariectomized rats which were given alpha-escin. In all groups body weight growth, masses, length and tibia diameter were determined as well as histological specimens of right femur and tibia slices were used for histometric measurements including: the transverse cross-section area of the tibial shaft cortex, transverse cross-section area of the tibial marrow cavity, periosteal osteoid width, endosteal osteoid width, periosteal thickness growth in the tibia, endosteal thickness growth in the tibia, epiphyseal and metaphyseal trabeculae thickness in the femur and epiphyseal cartilage width. Bilateral ovariectomy in matured female rats caused osteopenic skeletal changes. alpha-Escin (35 mg/kg per os daily) administered to the ovariectomized rats for the following 28 days decreased only a little the development of osteopenic skeletal changes caused by bilateral ovariectomy.