Placenta Hominis Protects Osteoporosis in Ovariectomized Rats

• Published in: Immunopharmacology and immunotoxicology Vol. 28; no. 1; pp. 165 - 173
• Main Authors: Chae, H.J., Choi, K.H., Chae, S.W., Kim, H.M., Shin, T.K., Lee, G.Y., Jeong, G.S., Park, H.R., Choi, H.I., Kim, S.B., Yoo, S.K., Kim, H.R.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Informa UK Ltd 2006; Taylor & Francis
• Subjects: Animals; Biomarkers; Biomechanical Phenomena; Body Weight - drug effects; Bone and Bones - pathology; Bone Density; Cell Count; Disease Progression; Female; Femur Neck - pathology; Humans; Osteoblast; Osteoblasts - drug effects; Osteoclast; Osteoclasts - drug effects; Osteoporosis, Postmenopausal - pathology; Osteoporosis, Postmenopausal - prevention & control; Ovariectomy; Ovariectomy (OVX); Placenta - chemistry; Placenta - physiology; Placenta Hominis Extracts (PHEs); Pregnancy; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Serum Biochemistry; Tissue Extracts - chemistry; Tissue Extracts - pharmacology; Trabecular Meshwork - cytology; Trabecular Meshwork - drug effects
• ISSN: 0892-3973; 1532-2513
• DOI: 10.1080/08923970600626197

In China, Japan, and Korea, placenta hominis extracts (PHEs) are used clinically for the treatment of osteoporosis. The anti-osteoporotic effect of PHEs was studied. The trabecular bone area and thickness in OVX rats decreased by 50% from those in sham-operated rats; these decreases were completely inhibited by administration of PHEs for 7 weeks. Osteoclast numbers and the osteoblast surface were enhanced in OVX rats, but PHEs had no effect on these phenomena. Serum phosphorus and alkaline phosphatase in OVX rats increased compared to those in sham-operated rats, but the increases were not affected by the administration of PHEs. Thyroxine (T4) level was stimulated in OVX rats. The extracts inhibited the T4 level in the OVX rats. These results strongly suggest that PHEs be effective in preventing the development of bone loss induced by OVX in rats.