β-Ecdysone Augments Peak Bone Mass in Mice of Both Sexes

Abstract

Background One of the strongest predictors for osteoporosis is peak bone mass. Interventions to augment peak bone mass have yet to be developed. b-Ecdysone (bEcd), a natural steroid-like compound produced by arthropods to initiate metamorphosis, is believed to have androgenic effects and so may be used to augment bone mass. Questions/purposes The purpose of this study was to use both male and female (1) gonadal-sufficient; and (2) -insufficient mice to investigate sex differences in terms of bone development and structure after bEcd administration.Methods Two-month-old male and female Swiss-Webster mice were randomized to receive either vehicle or bEcd (0.5 mg/kg) for 3 weeks. In a separate experiment to evaluate the effects of bEcd on sex hormone-deficient mice, gonadectomy was performed in male (orchiectomy [ORX]) and female mice (ovariectomy [OVX]). Shamoperated and the ORX/OVX mice were then treated for 3 weeks with bEcd. Primary endpoints for the study were trabecular bone structure and bone strength. Results In male mice, the trabecular bone volume was 0.18 ± 0.02 in the placebo-treated (PL) and 0.23 ± 0.02 in the bEcd-treated group (p \ 0.05 versus PL); and 0.09 ± 0.01 in the ORX group (p \ 0.05 versus PL) and 0.12 ± 0.01 in the ORX + bEcd group. Vertebral bone strength (maximum load) was 43 ± 2 in PL and 51 ± 1 in the bEcd-treated group (p \ 0.05 versus PL); and 30 ± 4 in the ORX group (p \ 0.05 versus PL) and 37 ± 3 in the ORX + bEcd group. In female mice, trabecular bone volume was 0.23 ± 0.02 in PL and 0.26 ± 0.02 in the bEcd-treated group (p \ 0.05 versus PL); and 0.15 ± 0.01 in the OVX group (p \ 0.05 versus PL) and 0.14 ± 0.01 in the OVX + bEcd group. Maximum load of the vertebrae was 45 ± 2 in PL and 48 ± 4 in the bEcd-treated group; and 39 ± 4 in the OVX group (p \ 0.05 versus PL) and 44 ± 4 in the OVX + bEcd group.

A novel cryo-embedding method for in-depth analysis of craniofacial mini pig bone specimens

“…Animals are typically young and, in most cases, have not even reached peak bone mass 35,36 . For example, in mice, peak bone mass is reached at ~ 4 months of age; in rats at ~ 9 months of age and in mini pigs, between ~ 2 and 3 years [37][38][39] . While it would be an obvious advantage to use animals whose skeletal age aligned with the intended patient population, this is very rarely achieved because the cost associated with housing large animals until they have reached peak bone mass (or older) is prohibitive.…”

Diversity of Plant Sterols Metabolism: The Impact on Human Health, Sport, and Accumulation of Contaminating Sterols

“…Due to possible androgenic and growth-stimulating effects, 20β-OH-ecdysone has been examined on the subject of acceleration of bone mass augmentation. Mice treated with 20β-OH-ecdysone at a dose of 0.5 mg/kg for three weeks with a frequency of 5 times per week showed an increase of strength and volume of both trabecular and cortical bones up to 0.88 ± 0.03 and 0.79 ± 0.2 ( p < 0.05) in male and female animals for trabecular bone volume, and up to 15 ± 0.3 and 12 ± 0.5 ( p < 0.05) in male and female animals for cortical bone volume [ 120 ]. Although the bone mass augmentation is pre-determined by gender-specific hormonal background and, specifically, by estrogen receptors loading, authors demonstrated that 20β-OH-ecdysone provides equal impact regardless of the gender feature ( Table 1 ).…”

“…The protective effect of 20β-OH-ecdysone against the loss of bone volume and density due to competing interaction with glucocorticoids and inhibition of stromal cells autophagy has been observed in rats who were being implanted with slow-releasing (for 60 days) prednisolone [ 120 ]. Regular treatment with 20β-OH-ecdysone entailed to the elevated level of bone mineralizing surface (up to 43%, p < 0.05) and the increased bone formation at the endocortical surface (up to 213%, p < 0.05).…”

β‐ecdysone promotes osteogenic differentiation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells

“…9 β-ecdysone (βEcd), which is found in many plants, is involved in protein synthesis, carbohydrate and lipid metabolism, and immunological modulation. 10 Dai et al 11 reported that βEcd could increase peak bone mass in growing male and female mice. Moreover, it was also found that βEcd could prevent glucocorticoid-induced changes in bone formation, bone cell viability and bone mass.…”