Effects of hPTH (1-34) and Gosha-jinki-gan on the trabecular bone microarchitecture in ovariectomized rat tibia

Although human parathyroid hormone (1-34) [hPTH (1-34)] was reported to improve osteoporotic bone loss, little is known about the anti-osteoporotic effect of the traditional Chinese medicine, Gosha-jinki-gan (GJG). The purpose of this present study was to clarify and compare the effects of hPTH (1-34) and GJG on trabecular bone microarchitecture in ovariectomized (OVX) rat tibia by using microcomputed tomography (micro-CT). Thirty 12-week-old Sprague-Dawley female rats were underwent ovariectomy (OVX) or sham operation. Four weeks later, the ovariectomized rats were further divided into OVX, OVX + PTH, and OVX + GJG groups. hPTH (1-34) was administered subcutaneously at a dose of 20 microg/kg, 3 times/week, and OVX + GJG group received 0.05% aqueous solution of GJG as the only drinking fluid for 8 weeks respectively. The three-dimensional (3D) trabecular microarchitecture of the bone in the proximal tibial metaphysis was evaluated by micro-CT. In the OVX + PTH group, trabecular bone volume (BV/ TV), number (Tb.N) and thickness (Tb.Th) were significantly increased, structure model index (SMI) and trabecular bone pattern factor (TBPf) decreased when compared with the OVX group. In comparison to the OVX group, BV/TV and Tb.N were significantly greater, while SMI and TBPf had no marked changes in the OVX + GJG group. These results suggest that the administration of hPTH (1-34) restore the trabecular bone volume and improve the microstuctural property as well, while GJG reduce the bone loss without affecting its microstructural property in ovariectomized rats.