Objective: The aim of the study was to determine the effect of nesfatin-1 on bone properties in female rats in the conditions of developing osteopenia induced by ovariectomy (OVX).
Material and methods: The experiment was performed on 21 female Wistar rats assigned to 3 groups receiving intraperitoneally physiological saline (SHO, OVX-PhS) and nesfatin-1 in dose 2 μg/kg BW of (OVX-NES) once a day for 8 wks. At the end of the experiment, the rats were scanned using the DXA method to determine the body composition, tBMC, and tBMD. The isolated femora and tibia were tested with the DXA method for BMD and BMC, and with the pQCT method for separate analysis of the cortical and trabecular bone tissue. The bone strength parameters were also determined. The immunohistochemical method was used for determination of nesfatin-1 localization in growth cartilage. Bone metabolism markers (osteocalcin, bALP, and NTx) were identified using an ELISA kit.
Results: OVX exerts a negative effect on bone tissue. The nesfatin-1 administration influenced positively the DXA parameters of tibia. TvBMD and TbvBMD measured by pQCT in metaphysis of bones were significantly higher in the OVX-NES group than in OVX-PhS. No differences were found in the values of bone strength parameters between SHO and OVX-NES females. Extra- and intracellular immunohistochemical reaction for nesfatin-1 was observed in all zones of growth cartilage, with the strongest reaction detected in the calcifying zone. Nesfatin-1 administration caused a significant increase in the osteocalcin and bALP concentration in relation to the OVX-PhS animals.
Conclusions: The results of the experiment indicate that nesfatin-1 exerts a protective effect on bone tissue properties and can be used in the prevention of osteoporosis.
Keywords: DXA; immunohistochemistry; nesfatin-1; osteopenia; osteoporosis; ovariectomy; pQCT; rat.