Objective: To observe the effect of Chinese herbs for supplementing Shen and strengthening bone (HB) on myelogenic osteoclasts formation, and gene expression of interleukin-6 (IL-6), IL-6 receptor (IL-6R) and gp130 in bone marrow.
Methods: Seventy-two healthy female SD rats of 3 months, were randomly divided into three groups, 24 in the sham-operated group (A), 24 in the ovariectomized group (B) and 24 in the after ovariectomy HB treated group (C). Bone marrow cells of 6 rats from each group were respectively collected and cultured at four time points (2nd, 4th, 6th and 12th weeks after operation). After 6 days of culture, the bone marrow cells were differentiated by Wright-Giemsa stain and TRAP stain, and total RNA in them was extracted by TRIZOL.
Results: Beginning from the 2nd week, the osteoclasts formation in Group B was higher than that in Group A (P < 0.05), and IL-6, IL-6R gene expression significantly increased in Group B (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). These changes reached the peak in the 4th to 6th week, with the level maintained to the 12th week. As for comparison of Group B and C, the above-mentioned changes were significantly weakened in the latter (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). No significant change of gp130 gene expression revealed in the whole course in either group.
Conclusion: HB could inhibit the myelogenic osteoclasts formation in ovariectomized rats, this effect may be correlated with, partially at least, its inhibitory effect on the over-expressed IL-6 and IL-6R gene expression in myelocytes after ovariectomy.