Korean J Aerosp Environ Med.  2011 Aug;21(2):28-33.

The Effect of Intermittent Artificial Gravity (IAG) on Osteoporosis Induced by Ovariectomy in Rats - Histomorphometric Analysis by Using 3D Micro-CT -

• Chung KY

Abstract

Background
One of the serious medical growing problems with aging is osteoporosis in human. This study aimed to identify the effect of intermittent artificial gravity (IAG) on osteoporosis induced by ovariectomy in rats. Methods: Eight-week-old female SD (Sprague-Dawley) rats were ovariectomized to induce osteoporosis. Twelve SD rats were randomly assigned to 3 groups (n=4/group): Control with ovariectomy (CON), Ovariectomy and intermittent artificial gravity (IAG) at 2 G for 30 min/day in 5 days every week (OVX＋AG), Group without ovariectomy and IAG (GR). The IAG had been applied to counteract for progression of bone loss. The tibias of rats were scanned by In-vivo Micro-CT at the week 0 (just before ovariectomy) and the week 4 (after ovariectomy). Structural parameters were investigated and analyzed. Results: There were statistically significant differences among 3 groups by ANOVA for bone volume (BV)/trabecular volume (TV), trabecular thickness (Tb. Th), trabecular seperation (Tb. Sp), trabecular number (Tb. N), bone mineral density (BMD) and bone mineral content (BMC) of trabecular bone (P＜0.05). However, there were no significant differences by post test with Dunnet between CON and OVX＋AG.
Conclusion
Application of intermittent artificial gravity (2 G, 30 min, x5/wk for 4 weeks) showed no beneficial effect to prevent osteoporosis induced by ovariectomy in rats.

Keyword

Rat; Ovariectomy; Hypergravity; Intermittent artificial gravity; Bone; Centrifugation; Countermeasure; Micro-CT