OBJECTIVE To explore the regulatory mechanism of Tenghuang Jiangu capsule on calcium and phosphorus metabolism in postmenopausal osteoporosis(PMOP) rats through the membrane-associated guanylate kinase(MAGUK)/N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor(NMDAR)/calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase Ⅱ(CaMKⅡ) signaling axis.
METHODS The PMOP rat models were established by bilateral ovariectomy. They were randomly divided into the model group, the western medicine control group and the Tenghuang Jiangu capsule treatment group(high-dose, medium-dose, low-dose), the other rats were sham-operated group. These rats were sacrificed 8 weeks after intragastric administration. The body mass of the last administration, serum calcium(Ca) and phosphorus(P) contents of the rats were detected. The histopathological morphological changes of femur were observed by HE staining. The bone volume fraction(BV/TV), number of trabecular bone(Tb.N), trabecular bone thickness(Tb.Th), and trabecular bone separation(Tb.Sp) of femurs in each group were measured by micro-CT. The mRNA and protein expressions of MAGUK, NMDAR and CaMKⅡ in the femur was detected with RT-PCR and Western blotting.
RESULTS Compared with the model group, Tenghuang Jiangu capsule obviously increased the serum contents of Ca and P, BV/TV, Tb.N, Tb.Th(P<0.05 or P<0.01), and significantly decreased the body mass of the last administration and Tb.Sp(P<0.01). It also obviously improved the bone microstructure injury, the mRNA and protein expressions of MAGUK, NMDAR, CaMKⅡ(P<0.05 or P<0.01).
CONCLUSION Tenghuang Jiangu capsule can promotes calcium and phosphorus metabolism in PMOP rats. The mechanism may be related to the activation of MAGUK/NMDAR/CaMKⅡ signal axis.
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