Objective: To investigate the effect of Jiangu tablets on bone metabolism

microarchitecture and stiffiness in an ovariectomized rat model. Method: Totally 50 Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into the sham group (n=10)

the model group (n=10)

the estradiol valerate tablets group (n=10)

the low-dose Jiangu tablets group (n=9) and the high-dose Jiangu tablets group (n=9). Ovaries were removed by surgery in each group to establish an ovariectomized rat model except sham group. Different groups were treated with different drugs or water. Estradiol valerate tablets group was administrated with estradiol valerate tablets at 0.1 mg·kg-1·d-1

low-dose Jiangu tablets group was administrated with Jiangu tablets at 0.35 g·kg-1·d-1

high-dose Jiangu tablets group was administrated with Jiangu tablets at 1.05 g·kg-1·d-1. The treatment maintained for 12 weeks. The body weight of rats was detected every week. Serum concentration of osteocalcin (OC)

alkaline phosphatase (ALP)

tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (StrACP)

calcium (Ca)

and phosphorus (P) were determined after treated. Bone microarchitecture and bone mineral content (BMC)

tissue mineral content (TMC)

bone mineral density (BMD)

tissue mineral density (TMD)

bone volume fraction(BV/TV)

trabecula number (TbN)

trabecular separation (TbSp)

trabecular thickness (TbTh) were detected by Micro-CT. The femur maximum load and stiffness were detected by a three-point bending testing. Result: Compared with the sham group

the levels of OC and ALP were increased significantly

the levels of Ca and P were decreased significantly (P<0.05

P<0.01)

the trabecula of distal and middle femur in model group became rare

BMC

TMC

BMD

TMD

BV/TV decreased significantly (P<0.05

P<0.01)

femur maximum load decreased significantly (P<0.05

P<0.01) in the model group. Compared with the model group

the levels of OC and ALP were significantly decreased

the levels of Ca was significantly increased in the the low-and high-dose Jiangu tablets group

and the level of P was significantly increased in the high-dose Jiangu tablets group (P<0.05

P<0.01). The levels of femur BMC

TMC

BMD

BV/TV were significantly increased in the low-and high-dose Jiangu tablets group(P<0.05

P<0.01)

and the level of TbSp was significantly decreased in the high-dose Jiangu tablets group(P<0.05). The maximum load and stiffness of femur were significantly increased in the low-and high-dose Jiangu tablets group (P<0.05

P<0.01). Conclusion: Jiangu tablets influenced the bone metabolism

ameliorated the bone microarchitecture and increased the bone stiffness in an ovariectomized rat model.