The experimental study of therapeutic effect of epimedium combined with core decompression on hormonal femoral ;head necrosis in rabbits

LIU Zhiguo; MA Wenhai; LI Jie

doi:10.3969/j.issn.1002-7386.2014.19.004

Abstract：Obj ectiev To investigate the therapeutic effect of epimedium combined with core decompression on hormonal femoral head necrosis in rabbits ,and to explore its action mechanism .Methods Sixty New Zealand white rabbits were randomly divided into control group ( n =12 ) and experimental group ( n =48 ) .The animal models with hormonal femoral head necrosis were established by the modified method of horse serum plus methylprednisolone , then according to different therapeutic methods the model animals were divided into model group , operation group ( core decompression ) , traditional Chinese medicine ( TCM ) group ( epimedium ) , integration group ( core decompression +epimedium ) .After 10-week treatment,the bone mineral density,biomechanics of femoral head were examined ,and the expression levels of IGF1, BMP2 mRNA and protein were detected by RT-PCR and Western Blot .Results As compared with those in control group ,the bone mineral density and biomechanical properties of femoral head were significantly decreased in model group , which were obviously improved in TCM group,operation group and integration group ( P <0.05),especially in integration group ( P <0.01).The expression levels of IGF1 mRNA and protein in model group were significantly higher than those in control group (P <0.05).The expression levels of BMP-2 mRNA and protein in model group were obviously decreased ,as compared with those in control group ( P <0.05).However there were no significant differences in the expression levels of IGF 1,BMP-2 mRNA and protein between TCM group and integration group and between operation group and model group ( P >0.05).The expression levels of IGF1,BMP-2 mRNA and protein in TCM group and integration group were significantly higher than those in model group and operation group ( P <0.05).The expression of IGF1 in femoral head was positively correlated to that of BMP-2 mRNA and protein ( P <0.01).Conclusion Epimedium plays an important role in reparation of hormonal femoral head necrosis through upregulating the expressions of IGF 1 and BMP-2.Moreover epimedium combined with core decompression can effectively increase bone mineral density ,enhance bone strength ,which would be an effective therapy for hormonal femoral head necrosis .