Abstract
The objective of this study is to identify whether oxytocin (OT) contributes to the reduction of osteopenia in the femoral neck of rats in periestropause. Animals in irregular estrous cycles received two NaCl injections (0.15 mol/L) or OT (134 μg/kg) over a 12-h interval, and after thirty-five days without treatments, the biological sample collection was performed. The oxytocin group (Ot) demonstrated the highest enzymatic activity of alkaline phosphatase (p = 0.0138), lowest enzymatic activity of tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (p = 0.0045), higher percentage of compact bone (p = 0.0359), cortical expression of runt-related transcription factor 2 (p = 0.0101), osterix (p = 0.0101), bone morphogenetic protein-2/4 (p = 0.0101) and periostin (p = 0.0455). Furthermore, the mineral-to-matrix ratio (ν1PO4/Proline) was higher and type-B carbonate substitution (CO3/ν1PO4) was lower (p = 0.0008 and 0.0303) in Ot group. The Ot showed higher areal bone mineral density (p = 0.0050), cortical bone area (p = 0.0416), polar moment of inertia, maximum, minimum (p = 0.0480, 0.0480, 0.0035), bone volume fraction (p = 0.0166), connectivity density (p < 0.0001), maximal load (p = 0.0003) and bone stiffness (p = 0.0145). In Ot percentage of cortical pores (p = 0.0102) and trabecular number (p = 0.0088) was lower. The results evidence action of OT in the reduction of osteopenia, suggesting that it is a promising anabolic strategy for the prevention of primary osteoporosis during the periestropause period.
Highlights
The objective of this study is to identify whether oxytocin (OT) contributes to the reduction of osteopenia in the femoral neck of rats in periestropause
Our results demonstrated that OT helps to modulate the bone remodeling cycle of senescent rats by improving the biochemical markers of bone turnover, expression of osteogenic and mineralization proteins, physicochemical properties, density, and trabecular and cortical bone microarchitecture, which culminates in a greater biomechanical response of compression (Fig. 12)
We analyzed alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP), typical markers of osteoblasts and osteoclasts, which are released into the extracellular space and can be used to identify the precursors of these cells[20]
Summary
The objective of this study is to identify whether oxytocin (OT) contributes to the reduction of osteopenia in the femoral neck of rats in periestropause. The aging population generally exhibits a higher cortical porosity, which explains the occurrence of a fracture in the proximal femur[6,7] Such changes on the microstructure of the bone may related to changes of the physical and chemical properties (mineral and matrix) that occur in the tissue because severe osteoporosis is associated with decreased cortical thickness and reduced concentrations of phosphate and carbonate in this region[8,9]. These strategies demonstrated the interference of central control in bone metabolism, such as the anabolic action of oxytocin (OT) and the existence of functional OT receptors in human osteoblasts and osteoclasts. Postmenopausal osteoporotic women have a lower OT plasma concentration[14], possibly because of the interdependent relationship of OT and estrogen, since the steroid stimulates the synthesis of OT and its receptor, and OT acts as an anabolic mediator of the action of estrogen in the bone[15]
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