Objective:

2

To investigate the impact of Qing'e Pill (青娥丸

QEP) on the cancellous bone microstructure and its effect on the level of β-catenin in a mouse model of postmenopausal osteoporosis.

Methods:

2

Ninety-six 8-week-old specific pathogen free C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into 4 groups (24/group): sham

ovariectomised osteoporosis model

oestradiol-treated

and QEP-treated groups. Three months after surgery

the third lumbar vertebra and left femur of the animals were dissected and scanned using micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) to acquire three-dimensional (3D) parameters of their cancellous bone microstructure. The impact of ovariectomy

the effect of oestradiol and QEP intervention on cancellous bone microstructure

and the expression of β-catenin were evaluated.

Results:

2

The oestradioland the QEP-treated groups exhibited a significant increase in the bone volume fraction

trabecular number

trabecular thickness

bone surface to bone volume ratio (BS/BV)

and β-catenin expression compared with those of the model group (

P

<

0.05). In contrast

the structure model index

trabecular separation

and BS/BV were significantly decreased compared with those of the ovariectomised osteoporosis model group (

P

<

0.05). No differences were observed in the above parameters between animals of the QEP- and oestradiol-treated groups.

Conclusions:

2

The increased β-catenin expression may be the mechanism underlying QEP's improvement of the cancellous bone microstructure in ovariectomised mice. Our findings provide a scientific rationale for using QEP as a dietary supplement to prevent bone loss in postmenopausal women.