Anti-osteopenic effect of alpha-ketoglutarate sodium salt in ovariectomized rats

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to determine the effect of alpha-ketoglutarate sodium salt (AKG) treatment on the mineralization of the tibia in female rats during the development of osteopenia (Experiment-1) and in the condition of established osteopenia (Experiment-2). Thirty-two female rats were ovariectomized (OVX) to induce osteopenia and osteoporosis and another 32 female rats were sham-operated (SHO) and then randomly divided between the two experiments. In Experiment-1, the treatment with AKG started after a 7-day period of convalescence, whereas in Experiment-2 the rats were subjected to a 60-day period of osteopenia fixation, after which the actual experimental protocol commenced. AKG was administered in the experimental solution for drinking at a concentration of 1.0 mol/l and a placebo (PLC) was used as a control solution. After 60 days of experimental treatment the rats in both experiements were sacrificed, the body weight recorded, and blood serum and isolated tibia were stored for further analysis. The bones were analyzed using tomography and densitometry, and for estimation of mechanical properties the 3-point bending test was used. Serum concentrations of osteocalcin and collagen type I crosslinked C-telopeptide were measured. The anabolic effects of AKG on bone during osteopenia development in Experiment-1 not only stopped the degradation of bone tissue, but also stimulated its mineralization. The usage of AKG in animals with established osteopenia (Experiment-2) was not able to prevent bone atrophy, but markedly reduced its intensity. The stimulation of tibia mineralization after AKG treatment has been also argued in healthy SHO animals. The results obtained prove the effectiveness of AKG usage in the prophylaxis and therapy of osteopenia and osteoporosis, induced by bilateral gonadectomy. Additionally, the results clearly prove that treatment with AKG improves the mineralization of bone tissue in healthy animals.

Is the consumption of snail meat actually healthy? An analysis of the osteotropic influence of snail meat as a sole source of protein in growing rats

“…This thesis supports the observed μ‐CT analysis of trabecular bone tissue. Additionally, the character of changes in the structure of tibia diaphysis and its mechanical properties mimics our earlier observation in gonadectomized animals (Radzki, Bieńko, Filip, Albera, & Kankofer, ; Radzki, Bienko, & Pierzynowski, ). Yet, the lack of any influence of a snail meat‐based diet on the planar BMD of total skeleton and isolated tibia (DXA), as well as the vBMD of the cortical and trabecular compartments (pQCT) suggest the seen effects come about due to growth retardation.…”

Alpha-ketoglutarate attenuates toxic effects of sodium nitroprusside and hydrogen peroxide in Drosophila melanogaster

“…Studies using animal models have shown that dietary supplementation with AKG has favorable effects on energy status, protein synthesis, growth, and performance (Junghans et al, 2006;Hou et al, 2011;Dobrowolski et al, 2013;Yao et al, 2012) and can potentially prevent the development of several systemic diseases commonly found in the elderly (Kjellman et al, 1997;Harisson and Pierzhynowski, 2008;Niemiec et al, 2011;Radzki et al, 2012). Protective properties of AKG were also demonstrated in hyperammonemia, hyperaminoaciduria, or exposures to toxic nitrogen chemicals such as cyanide, ammonia, ammonium compounds, amines and hydrazines (Bhattacharya et al, 2002;Dakshayani et al, 2006;Bhattacharya et al, 2009).…”

Influence of snail meat in the diet on mandibular bone loss in male rats: A densitometric, tomographic and morphometric study

“…It is possible that the consumption of snail meat as the sole source of protein causes effects similar to osteopenia or osteoporosis. The changes in the structure of the mandibles and their mechanical properties also resembled those in gonadectomized animals (24)(25)(26)28). In the last 20 years, a number of publications have demonstrated that the systemic bone mass loss that causes osteoporosis is highly correlated with the loss of teeth.…”

“…Dual X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) and peripheral quantitative tomography (pQCT) are the criterion standard for the evaluation and diagnosis of bone condition, They are very sensitive and reproducible techniques for measuring bone quality, not only in humans, but also in small animals (4,(25)(26)(27)(28). The quality of bone tissue is also measured by its resistance to fractures which occur when loads exceed the bone strength.…”