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Is Nitric Oxide a Mediator of the Effects of Low-Intensity Electrical Stimulation on Bone in Ovariectomized Rats?

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Abstract

Low-intensity electrical stimulation (LIES) may counteract the effects of ovariectomy (OVX) on nitric oxide synthase (NOS) expression, osteocyte viability, bone structure, and microarchitecture in rats (Lirani-Galvão et al., Calcif Tissue Int 84:502–509, 2009). The aim of the present study was to investigate if these effects of LIES could be mediated by NO. We analyzed the effects of NO blockage (by l-NAME) in the response to LIES on osteocyte viability, bone structure, and microarchitecture in OVX rats. Sixty rats (200–220 g) were divided into six groups: sham, sham-l-NAME (6 mg/kg/day), OVX, OVX-l-NAME, OVX-LIES, and OVX-LIES-l-NAME. After 12 weeks, rats were killed and tibiae collected for histomorphometric analysis and immunohistochemical detection of endothelial NOS (eNOS), inducible NOS (iNOS), and osteocyte apoptosis (caspase-3 and TUNEL). In the presence of l-NAME, LIES did not counteract the OVX-induced effects on bone volume and trabecular number (as on OVX-LIES). l-NAME blocked the stimulatory effects of LIES on iNOS and eNOS expression of OVX rats. Both l-NAME and LIES decreased osteocyte apoptosis. Our results showed that in OVX rats l-NAME partially blocks the effects of LIES on bone structure, turnover, and expression of iNOS and eNOS, suggesting that NO may be a mediator of some positive effects of LIES on bone.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. INSERM Unité 831, Faculté de Médecine R. T. H. Laënnec, rue G. Paradin, 69372, Lyon Cedex 08, France

    A. P. R. Lirani-Galvão, N. Portero-Muzy, P. D. Delmas & P. Chavassieux

  2. Departmento de Medicina, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Rua Pedro de Toledo 910, CEP 04039-002, São Paulo, SP, Brazil

    A. P. R. Lirani-Galvão, M. Lazaretti-Castro, C. T. Bergamaschi & A. B. Carvalho

  3. Bioengenharia, Universidade de São Paulo, Av. Trabalhador Sancarlense, 400, CEP 13566-590, São Carlos, SP, Brazil

    O. L. Silva

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  1. A. P. R. Lirani-Galvão
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  2. M. Lazaretti-Castro
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  3. N. Portero-Muzy
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  4. C. T. Bergamaschi
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  5. O. L. Silva
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  6. A. B. Carvalho
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  7. P. D. Delmas
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  8. P. Chavassieux
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Correspondence to A. P. R. Lirani-Galvão.

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Lirani-Galvão, A.P.R., Lazaretti-Castro, M., Portero-Muzy, N. et al. Is Nitric Oxide a Mediator of the Effects of Low-Intensity Electrical Stimulation on Bone in Ovariectomized Rats?. Calcif Tissue Int 87, 52–59 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00223-010-9357-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00223-010-9357-0

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