Effects of antioxidants on the biomechaulcal and biochemical markers in ovariectomized rats

Objective To investigate the effects of different combinations of antioxidants VitC, VitE and GSH on the biomechanical and biochemical markers in ovariectomized rats, Methods Seventy female SD rats, aged 4 months, were divided into 2 groups (control and model) randomly. Fifty rats in the model group underwent ovariectomy, while the other 20 rats in the control group had sham operations. Three month slater, 10 rats in the model group and 10 rats in the control group were selected randomly to detect their body weight, uterus weight, BMD of the left femur and lumbar vertebra, biomechanical characteristics of the left femur, levels of serum Ca2 +, Cr, ALP, SOD, MDA and GSH-Px and serumal resistance to OH . Then the rest were divided into 5 groups: A (sham), B (model), C (VitC + VitE), D (GSH), and E (VitC + VitE +GSH). VitC, VitE and GSH were given in 750 mg/kg, 250 mg/kg, and 125 mg/kg every day for 3 months,respectively. And then the biomechanical and biochemical markers were measured. Results Three months after ovariectomy, the body weight of the rats in the model group increased markedly compared with the control group, while BMD of the left femur and lumbar vertebra, biomechanical maximal load and uterus weight decreased. The serum levels of Ca , ALP and Cr increased. Three months after antioxidant treatment,the biomechanical maximal load and elastic load of the left femur and the maximal load of the 5th lumbar vertebra, the serum levels of SOD, GSH-Px and the serumal resistance to OH in groups D and E increased markedly, while the serum level of MDA decreased in groups C and D and the level of serum ALP decreased in all the treatment groups. Conclusion GSH and combination of VitC, VitE and GSH play a positive role in treatment of osteoperesis in ovariectomized rats. Key words: Osteoporosis;  Biomechanics;  Antioxidants;  Rats