Zhang Xuezhu, Peng Yingmei, Yu Jianchun, Liu Cunzhi, Cheng Haiyan, Liu Lu, Han Jingxian
Department of Biochemical Engineering, School of Chemical Engineering Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin, China.
Gerontology. 2009;55(3):322-32. doi: 10.1159/000214845. Epub 2009 Apr 23.
BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVE: The effect of acupuncture on the changes in the histomorphometric and mechanical properties of femurs in senescence-accelerated mice strain P6 (SAMP6) was evaluated in this work.
Six-month-old male SAMP6 and SAMR1 mice were allocated to 1 of 4 groups: SAMP6 control group (Pc), SAMP6 non-acupoint control group (Pn), SAMP6 acupuncture group (Pa) and SAMR1 control group (Rc). The Pa group was acupunctured at the Shenshu point (BL23) once daily for 8 weeks. Two non-acupoints at the hypochondria were needled for the Pn group. Mice in the other 2 groups were grasped using the same method as for the Pa group. The serum testosterone and osteocalcin (OC) levels were determined by radioimmunoassay. The histomorphometric data were obtained from undecalcified specimens, and the mechanical properties of the femur were assessed by the 3-point bending test.
After acupuncture treatment, the decreased serum testosterone level in SAMP6 mice increased markedly, whereas the increased OC concentration declined sharply. The bone histomorphometric and mechanical indexes of SAMP6 mice also improved significantly. The values of trabecular thickness, trabecular bone volume, osteoid volume, mineral apposition rate and bone formation rate in Pa mice increased by 20.4, 18.1, 14.1, 9.9 and 14.7%, respectively, compared with Pc mice. The scores for ultimate force, yield force, elastic stress, ultimate stress and energy to yield force for Pa mice were significantly higher than those of Pc and Pn mice.
Therefore, acupuncture at BL23 was effective in promoting bone formation, restoring the amount of bone volume, improving bone architecture and reversing osteoporosis in SAMP6 mice to some degree by enhancing the secretion of testosterone and declining bone turnover.
背景/目的：本研究评估了针刺对衰老加速小鼠P6品系（SAMP6）股骨组织形态计量学和力学性能变化的影响。
将6月龄雄性SAMP6和SAMR1小鼠分为4组：SAMP6对照组（Pc）、SAMP6非穴位对照组（Pn）、SAMP6针刺组（Pa）和SAMR1对照组（Rc）。Pa组每日针刺肾俞穴（BL23）1次，共8周。Pn组针刺季肋部的两个非穴位。另外两组小鼠采用与Pa组相同的方法抓取。采用放射免疫法测定血清睾酮和骨钙素（OC）水平。从不脱钙标本获取组织形态计量学数据，通过三点弯曲试验评估股骨的力学性能。
针刺治疗后，SAMP6小鼠血清睾酮水平显著升高，而升高的OC浓度急剧下降。SAMP6小鼠的骨组织形态计量学和力学指标也显著改善。与Pc组小鼠相比，Pa组小鼠的骨小梁厚度、骨小梁体积、类骨质体积、矿物质沉积率和骨形成率分别增加了20.4%、18.1%、14.1%、9.9%和14.7%。Pa组小鼠的最大力、屈服力、弹性应力、最大应力和屈服力能量得分显著高于Pc组和Pn组小鼠。
因此，针刺BL23可通过增强睾酮分泌和降低骨转换，在一定程度上有效促进SAMP6小鼠的骨形成，恢复骨量，改善骨结构并逆转骨质疏松。
