Preventive Effects of Berberine on Glucocorticoid-Induced Osteoporosis in Rats

Glucocorticoids are widely used to treat chronic diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and asthma. However, long-term glucocorticoid therapy can result in serious side effects, such as osteoporosis. The present study investigated the preventive effects of berberine on glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis in rats. Male Sprague Dawley rats were treated with vehicle, glucocorticoid, glucocorticoid and berberine, or glucocorticoid and calcium carbonate with vitamin D(3) for 12 weeks. The proximal tibiae of all rats were processed without decalcification for quantitative bone histomorphometry, and femur mechanical testing as well as bone mineral density (BMD) were analyzed. A significant decrease was found in the glucocorticoid-treated group compared with the control group in such indices as biomechanical quality, BMD, trabecular bone volume/total tissue area (BV/TV), trabecular number (Tb.N), trabecular thickness (Tb.Th), mineral apposition rate (MAR), bone formation rate/total tissue area (BFR/TV), and bone formation rate/trabecular bone surface (BFR/BS). In addition, significantly increased trabecular separation (Tb.Sp), osteoclast number/trabecular bone volume (Oc.N/BV), and osteoclast surface/trabecular bone surface (Oc.S/BS) were observed in the glucocorticoid-treated group, compared with the control group. Berberine and calcium carbonate with vitamin D(3) prevented the decrease in biomechanical quality, BMD, BV/TV, Tb.N, Tb.Th, MAR, BFR/TV, and BFR/BS, as well as increased Tb.Sp, Oc.N/BV, and Oc.S/BS in glucocorticoid-induced osteoporotic rats. The present results suggest that berberine prevents glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis by inhibiting bone resorption and improving bone formation.