Objective: To investigate effects of "Qiang Gu Kang Wei" prescription on biochemical indices of bone and related organs in tail-suspended rats.
Method: Rats were tail-suspended (-30 degrees) for 21 d to simulate weightlessness. The effect of this prescription on biochemical indices such as Ca, P in serum, osteocalcin (BGP) in serum and bone, oxyproline hydroxyproline (Hyp) in bone, alkaliphosphatase (ALP) in serum, small intestine and bone in these rats were examined.
Result: Comparing with the normal control, serum Ca decreased significantly (P<0.05) while serum P showed only a trend to decrease, at the same time BGP dropped in both serum and bone (P<0.05) and Hyp dropped only in bone (P<0.05). There was significant decrease of ALP activity in serum, small intestine and bone (P<0.01 or P<0.05) in suspended rats. The prescription showed different effects with different doses. In all the three dose groups (30 g/kg, 20 g/kg, 10 g/kg) Ca and P in serum levels increased (P<0.01 or P<0.05), BGP in serum and bone improved (P<0.05) or showed only a trend to increase. ALP activity increased in serum, small intestine and bone (P<0.05). Increase of Hyp in bone was found in the middle and the small dose groups (P<0.05).
Conclusion: This prescription shows an effect of improving biochemical indices in bone and related organs such as serum and small intestine in tail-suspended rats. But no distinct concentration-dependence was found.