Objective To investigate the effects of xianl inggubao (XLGB) on subchondral bone and articular cartilage in the rat osteoarthritis model induced by anterior cruciate l igament transection (ACLT). Methods Twentyfour 3-month-old female SD rats were divided randomly into 3 groups (n=8): Sham group (group A), ACLT group (group B) and XLGB group (group C). The osteoarthritis model was made by ACLT in groups B and C, the joint cave was sutured after exposure of ACL in group A. After 4 days, XLGB was given at 250 mg/(kg·d) in group C and the equivalent amount of sal ine was given in groups A and B. After 12 weeks, the gross appearance of femoral condyles was observed, the degree of cartilagedegeneration was scored by Mankin scoring system. The immunostaining for MMP-13 was performed to investigate the effect of XLGB on prevention of cartilage matrix loss. The bone mineral density (BMD) measurement and bone histomorphometric analysis were done in subchondral bone of right distal femur and proximal tibia after 12 weeks. Results The gross appearance of femoral condyles showed that ulcer in the group C was smaller than that in group B after 12 weeks. The Mankin’s scale and IA value for MMP-13 in group C were markedly lower than those in group B (P lt; 0.05). BMD of the subchondral bone in the group B was significantly lower than those in the groups A and C (P lt; 0.05). The bone mass in group C were significantly higher than that in group B (P lt; 0.05). Conclusion Oral administration of XLGB (250 mg/ kg per day) for 12 weeks could prevent the cartilage degeneration of rats after ACLT, down-regulating MMP-13 and increasing subchondral bone mass might participate in this process.
To evaluate the effects of XiangLingGuBao (XLGB) on femoral fracture heal ing in ovariectomized (OVX) rats. Methods Forty 12-week-old female SD rats weighing (258 ± 14) g were divided randomly into 4 groups (n=10 per group): group A, sham operation by opening the abdominal cavity; group B, bilateral ovariectomy; group C, bilateral ovariectomy, transverse midshaft fracture of the right femur with intramedullary nail fixation, and normal sal ine by gavage; group D, bilateral ovariectomy, transverse midshaft fracture of the right femur with intramedullary nail fixation, and 250 mg/(kg•d) XLGB by gavage. The weight of rabbits in groups A and B was measured 0, 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 weeks after operation. The right femur of each rat was obtained 5 weeks after operation. Total femur bone mineral density (tBMD), distal femur bone mineral density (dBMD) and middle femur bone mineral density (mBMD) were measured by double energy X-ray absorptiometry CR filming, HE staining and immunohistochemistry staining of groups C and D were performed. Results The weight of rats in group B was obviously higher than that of group A at 3, 4 and 5 weeks after operation (P lt; 0.05), indicating the animal model of postmenopausal osteoporosis was establ ished successfully. CR films showed more callus and obscure fracture l ine in group D, while less callus and distinct fracture l ine in group C. The tBMD and the dBMD of group B were far less than that of group A, the mBMD of group D was significantly higher than that of group C(P lt; 0.05), the tBMD and the dBMD of group D were higher than that of group C, but no significant difference was evidentbetween two groups (P gt; 0.05). Histology observation showed, when compared with group C, most fracture ends in groupD reached bone union, and the introduction of capillaries was evident in the marrow cavity. Immunohistochemistry staining demonstrated that the BMP-2 integrated absorbance (IA) value in groups C and D was 2.236 6 ± 0.181 8 and 3.727 3 ± 0.874 2, respectively, the VEGF IA value in groups C and D was 2.835 5 ± 0.537 0 and 3.839 6 ± 0.223 0, respectively, indicating there were significant differences between two groups (P lt; 0.05). Conclusion XLGB can obviously promote the femoral fracture heal ing in OVX rats, and speed the transformation of woven bone into lamellar bone, which may rely on its role of enhancing expression of BMP-2 and VEGF.