Efeitos da pinealectomia sobre o tecido ósseo de ratos intactos e orquiectomizados.

Abstract

Osteoporosis is an important world s public health problem. The resulting fracture from this sickness becomes concerning, because it can start other problems. So, the mortality and morbidity that follow the osteoporosis diagnosis are concerning, once a high rate in old people can be seen. Based on evidences found in literature regarding the melatonin effects on bone tissue, the aim of this study was to check the possible consequences of the absence of melatonin, (pinealectomy) on body weight and femur of rats, from distinct bone analysis. It was used male rats of the Wistar strain (220-260g BW), bred at the Universidade Federal de São Carlos, were housed under conditions controlled for temperature (22±1oC) and light (lights on between 8 am and 6 pm daily). All rats were allowed free access to water and a pelleted standard commercial diet. The experimental protocol was divided in 8 groups (each group n=7): Basal; Pinealectomized-Sham; Pinealectomized and Intact (non-orchidectomized); Pinealectomized and Orchidectomized; Pinealectomized, Orchidectomized treated with Melatonin; Pinealectomized, Orchidectomized treated with Saline; Pinealectomized and Intact treated with Melatonin; Pinealectomized and Intact treated with Saline. Some groups of animals received hormonal replacement with subcutaneous melatonin injections at a dose of 200ug/kg, during 8 weeks (six days a week). Then, biometric, physical and biomechanical right femur analysis were done. It was also analyzed the body weight of each animal and bone quality. Bone mineral density was analysed on the left femur, as well as scanning electron microscopy of bone histomorphology. Pinealectomized animals treated with melatonin evoked a lower body weight increase in relation to their respective control groups. Pinealectomy associated with castration seems to enhance osteopeny indicators values, what isn´t corrected by hormonal replacement. Results from differents parameters were smallest to pinealectomized and orchidectomized rats, or only orchidectomized rats, in relation to Basal and Sham groups. Hormonal replacement is to pinealectomized and non-castrated animals enough to allow higher Maximum Force values in the flex test of the femur and protect from loss of bone density and avoid the formation of big spaces in cancellous bone. This study has shown for the first time that Pinealectomy seems to enhance the osteopeny effects of orchidectomy in rats.