Kanogwun Thongchote. Effects of hyperprolactinemia on bone remodeling in ovariectomized rats with or without estrogen supplement . Master's Degree(Physiology). Mahidol University. : Mahidol University, 2007.
Effects of hyperprolactinemia on bone remodeling in ovariectomized rats with or without estrogen supplement
Abstract:
Association between hyperprolactinemia and reduced bone mass is generally
explained in terms of estrogen deficiency secondary to hyperprolactinemia. However,
some hyperprolactinemic women develop osteoporosis even with normal estrogen,
suggesting a direct effect of hyperprolactinemia on the bone. The present study
investigated the effect of high prolactin (PRL) levels on bone turnover in the presence and
absence of estrogen. Estrogen deficiency was induced by ovariectomy (Ovx) and
hyperprolactinemia was induced by pituitary transplantation. Ten-week old female
Sprague Dawley rats were divided into 6 groups; sham-control (Sham), anterior pituitarytransplanted
rats with high PRL levels (AP), ovariectomized rats (Ovx), Ovx rats with
estrogen replacement (Ovx+E2), AP and Ovx rats without estrogen replacement
(AP+Ovx), and with estrogen replacement (AP+Ovx+E2). Bone mineral density (BMD)
of the femur and lumbar vertebrae 5, 6 (L5, 6) was measured by Dual Energy X-ray
Absorptiometry. Bone remodeling was evaluated by bone histomorphometry in the
proximal tibial metaphysis.
Results showed that when the whole femur was evaluated, Ovx was the only
group to show a significant decrease in BMD at 5 and 7 weeks post surgery. However, if
femoral diaphysis and metaphysis were evaluated separately, a significant decrease in
BMD of the distal femoral metaphysis (trabecular bone) was found as early as 2 weeks.
Similar reduction in BMD of L5 and 6 were observed in the Ovx and AP+Ovx rats.
Interestingly, AP also caused bone loss in the femoral metaphysis at 7 weeks.
Furthermore, bone histomorphometry showed that Ovx typically uncoupled bone
formation and resorption by selectively enhancing bone resorption, whereas AP
accelerated bone remodeling by enhancing both formation and resorption with a resultant
29% bone loss. Interestingly, the high PRL levels in the absence (AP+Ovx) or presence of
estrogen (AP) led to a significant increase in the mineral apposition rate and bone
formation rate, suggesting that PRL effect on these parameters was independent of
estrogen. However, PRL action to increase the osteoblast number required the presence of
ovarian factors other than estrogen.
In conclusion, high PRL levels, besides decreasing bone volume via inducing
estrogen deficiency, appeared to have an estrogen-independent direct effect on bone i.e.,
stimulating bone turnover, especially bone resorption.