Related Experiment Video
Updated: Dec 28, 2025
Author Spotlight: Developing a Rat Model for Weight-Bearing Intervention to Investigate Osteonecrosis of the Femoral Head
Published on: September 27, 2024
Structural characterization of a safflower polysaccharide and its promotion effect on steroid-induced osteonecrosis
Daping Cui1, Dewei Zhao1, Shibo Huang1
1Department of Orthopaedics, Affiliated Zhongshan Hospital of Dalian University, No 6 Jiefang Street, Zhongshan District, Dalian 116001, China.
Abstract:
A water-soluble polysaccharide (SPAW) was purified from Safflower and it was identified to be (1→3)-linked β-d-Glucan. The therapeutic effect and underlying mechanism of SPAW on steroid-induced avascular necrosis of the femoral head (SANFH) in a rabbit model was performed here. The abnormal histopathologic changes and apoptosis of femoral head in model group were significantly reverted after SPAW (25, 100 and 200 mg/kg) administration for 60 days, as evidenced by the a decline of empty lacunae rate, the average bone marrow fat cell size and the proportion of apoptotic cells. Furthermore, administration of SPAW significantly decreased the Bax and caspase-3 protein expression, but increased the protein expression of Bcl-2 when compared these in model rabbits. Meanwhile, increased hydroxyproline (HOP) and decreased serum hexosamine (HOM) concentration in rabbit serum were turned to the opposite way. The present study suggested that SPAW may provide an alternative treatment for the treatment of SANFH.
