2015 ISAKOS Biennial Congress ePoster #318

Early Steroid-Induced Osteonecrosis of Rabbit Femoral Head and Panax Notoginseng Saponins: Mechanism and Protective Effects

Hui Qiang, MD, Xi'an, Shaanxi CHINA
Huitong Liu, MD, Xi'an, Shaanxi CHINA

Shaanxi Provincial People’s Hospital, Xi'an, Shaanxi, CHINA

FDA Status Not Applicable

Summary: Steroid-induced avascular necrosis of the femoral head (SANFH), the focus of orthopaedic researches, has frustrated orthopedists for many years. The purpose of this study was to investigate the roles of oxidative stress in the pathogenesis of SANFH, and to explore the mechanism and protective effects of panax notoginseng saponin (PNS) on early SANFH.

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Abstract:

Steroid-induced avascular necrosis of the femoral head (SANFH), the focus of orthopaedic researches, has frustrated orthopedists for many years. The purpose of this study was to investigate the roles of oxidative stress in the pathogenesis of SANFH, and to explore the mechanism and protective effects of panax notoginseng saponin (PNS) on early SANFH. In the study, a total of 80 healthy adult New Zealand rabbits were randomly divided into three groups: normal control group (n=20), model group (n=30), and PNS group (n=30). In the model group, equine serum was injected into the auricular vein; then 40mg/kg methylprednisolone was injected into gluteus. In the PNS group, PNS (50mg/kg, i.v.) was applied for 14 consecutive days before methylprednisolone management. At different time points before and after steroid injection, the serum and femoral heads were prepared for T-AOC, SOD, GSH-PX, OH and MDA determination. Two weeks after steroid management, all femoral heads were assessed with MRI and H.E staining. All protocols were approved by the Medical Animal Studies Committee of Xi’an Jiaotong University. In the model group, typical symptoms of early osteonecrosis were observed with H.E staining and MRI. Our results showed that PNS could significantly ameliorate the decrease of T-AOC level, improve SOD and GSH-PX activity, suppress OH ability, and reduce MDA level. Besides, PNS improved MRI and pathological changes of the femoral head, markedly reducing the incidence of osteonecrosis from 76.92% to 26.67%, and from 69.23% to 20.00% as detected by H.E staining and MRI respectively. Based on our research, we concluded that oxidative stress played a positive role in the occurrence of SANFH where reactive oxygen species was the direct cause. PNS could protect rabbits against early steroid-induced osteonecrosis of the femoral head by its anti-oxidative effect.

Key words:Panax notoginseng saponins (PNS); Steroid-induced avascular necrosis of the femoral head (SANFH); Oxidative stress; Rabbit