Restrain of bone growth by estrogen-mimetic peptide-1 (EMP-1): a micro-computed tomographic study

Peptides. 2009 Jun;30(6):1181-6. doi: 10.1016/j.peptides.2009.02.019. Epub 2009 Mar 14.

Abstract

Estrogen has a key role in the regulation of skeletal growth and maintenance of bone mass. Recently, we developed peptides having estrogen-like activity as potential estrogen-based new drugs. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the influence of long-term administration of the most efficacious of these peptides, the hexapeptide EMP-1 (VSWFFE), on bone mass and development. EMP-1 was injected daily to ovariectomized (OVX) and intact young, sexually mature female mice for 10 weeks. Whole femora, including the cartilaginous growth plates were analyzed by micro-computed tomography (microCT). We found that peptide EMP-1 restrains bone growth in OVX mice: it inhibited dramatically bone longitudinal growth (40%), and decreased femoral diaphyseal diameter. Peptide EMP-1 had no effect on bone growth in normal mice, and did not influence the OVX-induced bone loss. We then developed a new microCT methodology to evaluate uncalcified and calcified growth plate parameters. In the OVX mice, peptide EMP-1 reduced volume and thickness of the uncalcified growth plate, a possible cause for the inhibition of bone longitudinal growth. Peptide EMP-1 may be used as a lead compound for the development of drugs to treat acromegalic patients.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Bone Development / drug effects*
  • Bone and Bones / drug effects*
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Estrogens / chemistry
  • Female
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred Strains
  • Molecular Mimicry
  • Oligopeptides / chemistry*
  • Oligopeptides / pharmacology*
  • Ovariectomy
  • X-Ray Microtomography

Substances

  • Estrogens
  • Oligopeptides
  • valyl-seryl-tryptophyl-phenylalanyl-phenylalanyl-glutamic acid