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Calcitonin suppresses intervertebral disk degeneration and preserves lumbar vertebral bone mineral density and bone strength in ovariectomized rats

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Abstract

Summary

We investigated the effect of calcitonin (CT) on lumbar intervertebral disk degeneration (LIDD) in rats with ovariectomy-induced osteopenia. CT protected ovariectomized rats from LIDD by, at least in part, modifying extracellular matrix metabolism of the disks and preserving the microarchitecture and biomechanical properties of adjacent vertebrae.

Introduction

The present study aimed to investigate the effect of CT on lumbar vertebral bone mineral density and intervertebral disk degeneration in ovariectomized (OVX) rats.

Methods

We first subjected 50 3-month-old female rats to either OVX (n = 30) or sham (n = 20). Twelve weeks later, ten OVX and ten sham rats were necropsied. The remaining OVX rats began to receive either saline vehicle (OVX + V, n = 10), or salmon CT (OVX + CT, 16 IU/kg/2 days, n = 10). After 12 weeks of treatment, necropsy was conducted and bone mineral density was determined in L3–4 and L5–6 vertebrae. The microstructure and biomechanical properties of L3 vertebrae were detected by micro-computed tomography and compression test, respectively. L5–6 was also used to measure intervertebral disk height and observe intervertebral disk histological changes by Van Gieson staining and histological scores, as well as immunohistochemistry (IHC) analysis of matrix metalloprotease (MMP)-1, MMP-13, and collagen II expression.

Results

At 12 weeks post-OVX, OVX rats had lower BV/TV and Tb.N and higher intervertebral disk histological score than sham rats. After 24 weeks, OVX + CT rats had higher BMD, BV/TV, Tb.N, and bone biomechanical strength values than OVX + V rats. Histological analysis showed OVX + CT rats had significantly lower disk degeneration scores than OVX + V rats. IHC analysis revealed CT treatment decreased expression of MMP-1 and MMP-13 and increased expression of collagen II compared with OVX + V rats.

Conclusions

Our data demonstrate that CT-treated OVX rats display less intervertebral disk degeneration and favorable changes in intervertebral disk metabolism, associated with higher trabecular bone mass, better trabecular microarchitecture, and better biomechanical strength when compared to vehicle-treated OVX rats.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC 31171136), the Natural Science Foundation of Hebei Province (H2013209255 and H2013209257), and the Science and Technology Project of Hebei Province (11276106D).

Conflict of interest

Fa-ming Tian, Kai Yang, Wen-ya Wang, Yang Luo, Shu-yang Li, Hui-ping Song, Ying-ze Zhang, Yong Shen, and Liu Zhang declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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    Authors and Affiliations

    1. Medical Research Center, Affiliated Hospital of Hebei United University, Tangshan, People’s Republic of China

      F.-m. Tian

    2. Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Affiliated Hospital of Hebei United University, No. 73 Jianshe South Rd, Tangshan, 063000, Hebei, People’s Republic of China

      K. Yang, S.-y. Li, H.-p. Song & L. Zhang

    3. Department of Pathology of Basic Medical Sciences School, Hebei United University, Tangshan, People’s Republic of China

      W.-y. Wang

    4. Department of Orthopedic Surgery, The Third Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, People’s Republic of China

      Y. Luo, Y.-z. Zhang & Y. Shen

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    1. F.-m. Tian
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    Correspondence to L. Zhang.

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    Fa-ming Tian and Kai Yang contributed equally to this work.

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    Tian, Fm., Yang, K., Wang, Wy. et al. Calcitonin suppresses intervertebral disk degeneration and preserves lumbar vertebral bone mineral density and bone strength in ovariectomized rats. Osteoporos Int 26, 2853–2861 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00198-015-3202-2

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    • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00198-015-3202-2

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