[Effects of Dioscorea septemloba on the biomechanical and bone histomorphometric parameters of femur in the ovariectomized rats].

Objective: To investigate the effects of the decoction of Rhizoma Dioscoreae septemlobae (RD) on the biomechanical and bone histomorphometric parameters of femur in the ovariectomized rats.

Methods: 25 female Wistar rats without pregnancy and deliver were divided into 5 groups randomly: sham (sham-operation), ovariectomy (OVX), OVX + high dosage RD (4 g/kg x d), OVX + middle dosage RD (2 g/kg x d) and OVX + low dosage RD (1 g/kg x d), n = 5 in every group. After intragastric administration 12-week period continuously, the biomechanical and the bone histomorphometric parameters of the femur of the rats in every group were determined, respectively, including percentage of trabecular bone volume (TBV%), percentage of trabecular osteoid (TOS%), mean osteoid width (MOSW), percentage of mineralizing surface (MdS%), percentage of double mineralizing surface (DMds%), percentage of DMds/MdS (%), percentage of travecular formation surface (TFS%), percentage of trabecular resorption surface (TRS%), mineral apposition rate (MAR), mineralizing lag time (MLT).