Abstract
Introduction: Oxytocin (OT) has been proposed to assist in the regulation of bone remodeling and to exert an antiosteoporotic effect. We evaluated the possible protective effect of OT against bone degeneration in ovariectomized (OVX) rats. The study was performed on three groups of adult female rats; group I was subjected to sham operation, group II was subjected to ovariectomy, and group III was subjected to ovariectomy and intraperitoneal injection with OT for eight successive weeks. At the end of the study, bone mass density (BMD) was measured; then the rats were euthanized and their blood and bone tissues were examined. The group II rats had significantly less BMD and greater serum bone-specific alkaline phosphatase (bALP), osteocalcin (OC), and tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) levels than the group I rats. Furthermore, group II rats had fewer osteocytes and osteoblasts, and less OPG/RANKL mRNA expression than group I rats. The groups I and III and rats showed no significant differences in BMD, bALP, OC, TRAP, OPG/RANKL mRNA expression, or osteocyte and osteoblast numbers. Oxytocin may have an antiosteoporotic effect in OVX rats.
Highlights
Osteoporosis is found worldwide; approximately 10% of the world’s population and 30% of postmenopausal women suffer from the disease (1-2)
Osteoporosis is characterized by low bone mass and disruption of bone microarchitecture (3), which lead to fractures and impaired bone regeneration (4)
OT receptors (OTRs) were found on osteoblasts and osteoclasts; in addition, the anabolic effects of estrogen on bone mass were partially mediated through OT (9)
Summary
Osteoporosis is found worldwide; approximately 10% of the world’s population and 30% of postmenopausal women suffer from the disease (1-2). Osteoporosis is characterized by low bone mass and disruption of bone microarchitecture (3), which lead to fractures and impaired bone regeneration (4). Oxytocin has anabolic effects on bone, increasing osteoblastic over osteoclastic activity (8). OT receptors (OTRs) were found on osteoblasts and osteoclasts; in addition, the anabolic effects of estrogen on bone mass were partially mediated through OT (9). Oxytocin- and OTR-null mice suffered from severe osteoporosis with low bone turnover (10), and the administration of OT increased bone formation and improved bone microarchitecture (8). Group II rats had fewer osteocytes and osteoblasts, and less OPG/RANKL mRNA expression than group I rats. The groups I and III and rats showed no significant differences in BMD, bALP, OC, TRAP, OPG/RANKL mRNA expression, or osteocyte and osteoblast numbers. Conclusions: Oxytocin may have an antiosteoporotic effect in OVX rats
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