[Experimental study on the effect of ipriflavone against osteoporosis in ovariectomized rats].

In order to evaluate the effect of Ipriflavone (BO, synthesized for the first time by the School of Pharmaceutical Sciences of WCUMS) against osteoporosis in ovariectomized (OVX) rats, 98 female Wistar rats were divided into 7 groups: bilateral OVX, sham operated (S), and 5 treatment groups after OVX, of which 3 groups were given domestic BO-25, 100, and 400 mg/kg BW (L, M, H), respectively, and the remaining two groups, BO (made in Japan)-100 mg/kg BW (J) and 17 beta-estradiol-4 mg/kg BW (E). One day after operation, BO and E were given daily and twice a week, respectively, by gavage to the animals, while S and OVX groups were treated with vehicles alone. On the 14th and 6th day prior to the sacrifice 0.25% tetracycline hydrochloride was administered i.p. to 6 rats of each group at a dosage of 25 mg/kg BW. The rats were sacrificed after 12 wks and blood samples were collected for serum Ca, P, and AkP activity. The uterines were removed and weighed. Undecalcified sections of the left proximal tibia were processed for bone histomorphometry, and HE sections of the right tibia were processed for bone pathology. The weights per unit bone length, the calcium and phosphorus contents of the left femur were measured. The results showed that in the OVX animals trabecular bone volume, trabecular thickness, and the ash content of bone were all significantly reduced. This bone loss was associated with increase in osteoclast index, osteoblast index, osteoid surface and serum AkP activity.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)