Current treatment options for osteoporosis primarily involve pharmacotherapies, but they are often accompanied by undesirable side effects. Utilization of mechanical stress which can noninvasively induce bone formation has been suggested as an alternative to conventional treatments. Here, we examined the efficacy of mechanical stress induced by electrical stimulation, radial extracorporeal shock waves, and ultrasound for estrogen-deficient osteoporosis. Female Wistar rats were divided into following five groups: sham-operated group, untreated after ovariectomy, and treated with electrical stimulation, radial extracorporeal shock wave, or ultrasound starting at 8 weeks after ovariectomy for 4 weeks. Trabecular bone architecture of the femur was assessed by micro-CT and its biomechanical properties were obtained by mechanical testing. The femurs were further evaluated by histochemical, immunohistochemical, and real-time PCR analyses. Radial extracorporeal shock wave and ultrasound treatment improved trabecular bone microarchitecture and bone strength in osteoporotic rats, but not electrical stimulation. The shock wave decreased osteoclast activity and RANKL expression. The exposure of ultrasound increased osteoblast activity and β-catenin-positive cells, and they decreased sclerostin-positive osteocytes. These findings suggest that mechanical stress induced by radial extracorporeal shock wave and ultrasound can improve estrogen-deficient bone loss and bone fragility through promoted bone formation or attenuated bone resorption.

目前骨质疏松症的治疗选择主要涉及药物疗法，但它们通常伴随着不良副作用。已经建议利用可以非侵入性地诱导骨形成的机械应力作为常规治疗的替代方案。在这里，我们检查了由电刺激、径向体外冲击波和超声引起的机械应力对雌激素缺乏性骨质疏松症的疗效。雌性 Wistar 大鼠分为以下 5 组：假手术组、卵巢切除后未治疗组、卵巢切除术后 8 周开始电刺激、放射状体外冲击波或超声治疗 4 周。股骨的骨小梁结构通过显微 CT 评估，其生物力学特性通过机械测试获得。通过组织化学、免疫组织化学和实时 PCR 分析进一步评估了股骨。径向体外冲击波和超声治疗可改善骨质疏松大鼠的骨小梁微结构和骨强度，但不能改善电刺激。冲击波降低了破骨细胞活性和 RANKL 表达。超声暴露增加了成骨细胞活性和 β-连环蛋白阳性细胞，并减少了硬化蛋白阳性骨细胞。这些发现表明，径向体外冲击波和超声引起的机械应力可以通过促进骨形成或减弱骨吸收来改善雌激素缺乏的骨丢失和骨脆性。径向体外冲击波和超声治疗可改善骨质疏松大鼠的骨小梁微结构和骨强度，但不能改善电刺激。冲击波降低了破骨细胞活性和 RANKL 表达。超声暴露增加了成骨细胞活性和 β-连环蛋白阳性细胞，并减少了硬化蛋白阳性骨细胞。这些发现表明，径向体外冲击波和超声引起的机械应力可以通过促进骨形成或减弱骨吸收来改善雌激素缺乏的骨丢失和骨脆性。径向体外冲击波和超声治疗可改善骨质疏松大鼠的骨小梁微结构和骨强度，但不能改善电刺激。冲击波降低了破骨细胞活性和 RANKL 表达。超声暴露增加了成骨细胞活性和 β-连环蛋白阳性细胞，并减少了硬化蛋白阳性骨细胞。这些发现表明，径向体外冲击波和超声引起的机械应力可以通过促进骨形成或减弱骨吸收来改善雌激素缺乏的骨丢失和骨脆性。超声暴露增加了成骨细胞活性和 β-连环蛋白阳性细胞，并减少了硬化蛋白阳性骨细胞。这些发现表明，径向体外冲击波和超声引起的机械应力可以通过促进骨形成或减弱骨吸收来改善雌激素缺乏的骨丢失和骨脆性。超声暴露增加了成骨细胞活性和 β-连环蛋白阳性细胞，并减少了硬化蛋白阳性骨细胞。这些发现表明，径向体外冲击波和超声引起的机械应力可以通过促进骨形成或减弱骨吸收来改善雌激素缺乏的骨丢失和骨脆性。