Effects of Yishen-Jianpi decoction on serum sclerostin level, bone mineral density in chronic atrophic gastritis in rats

Abstract

Objective To explore the effects of Yishen-Jianpi decoction on bone mineral density (BMD) and serum sclerostin level in chronic atrophic gastritis in rats. Methods Wistar rats were randomly divided into normal control group, model group, Weimeisu group, low-, medium- and high-dose Yishen-Jianpi Decoction groups. Chronic atrophic gastritis was induced via depriving of water by replacement with 0.1% ammonia water for 180 days. After modeling, the rats in the Yishen-Jianpi decoction groups of low-, mediumand high-dose received intragastric administration of Yishen-Jianpi decoction of 7.5, 15, 30 g/(kg•d), respectively; the Weimeisu group received intragastric administration of Weimeisu suspension 0.28 g/(kg•d); the normal control group and the model group received intragastric administration of equivalent volume of normal saline. After 90 d continuous administration the specimens were drawn. The femur BMD and BMC were detected with dual energy X-ray absorptiometry. The serum sclerostin level was measured with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The serum levels of parathyroid hormone (PTH) and human calcitonin (CT) were detected with radioimmunoassay. Results Compared with the normal control group (n=10), the femur BMD (0.168 ± 0.007 g/cm2vs. 0.235 ± 0.029 g/cm2), BMC (0.383 ± 0.022 g vs. 0.637 ± 0.085 g), and the serum CT level (26.76 ± 11.54 pg/m vs. 33.85 ± 13.12 pg/ml) in the model group (n=9) were significantly decreased (all P<0.05), while the serum level of sclerostin (105.78 ± 34.43 pg/ml vs. 71.51 ± 23.21 pg/ml) and PTH (11.52 ± 4.34 ng/dl vs. 8.46 ± 2.39 ng/dl) were significantly increased (all P<0.05). Compared with the model group, the femur BMD (0.197 ± 0.011 g/cm2, 0.201 ± 0.017 g/cm2, 0.206 ± 0.021 g/cm2vs. 0.168 ± 0.007 g/cm2), BMC (0.538 ± 0.036 g, 0.546 ± 0.039 g, 0.569 ± 0.048 g vs. 0.383 ± 0.022 g), serum CT level (30.42 ± 12.61 pg/ ml, 31.35 ± 12.75 pg/ml, 30.83 ± 13.10 pg/ml vs. 26.76 ± 11.54 pg/ml) in the Yishen-Jianpi decoction groups of low-(n=10), medium- (n=10) and high-dose (n=9) were significantly increased (all P <0.05), while serum levels of sclerostin (86.32 ± 24.28 pg/ml, 87.65 ± 24.75 pg/ml, 86.82 ± 25.56 pg/ml vs. 105.78 ± 34.43 pg/ml) and PTH (9.36 ± 2.76 ng/dl, 9.76 ± 2.85 ng/dl, 9.84 ± 2.97 ng/dl vs. 11.52 ± 4.34 ng/dl) were significantly decreased (all P<0.05). Conclusions Yishen-Jianpi decoction can reduce serum sclerostin level, and has protective effects against osteoporosis in chronic atrophic gastritis in rats. Key words: Gastritis, atrophic; Bone density; Osteoporosis; Rats; Sclerostin