Ginsenoside Rg1 Protects Steroid-induced Osteonecrosis Of The Femoral Head In Rats By Suppressing Oxidative Stress And Adipogenesis Via PPAR?

Objective:This study aimed to investigate the effects of ginsenoside Rg1(Rg1)in preventing steroid-induced osteonecrosis.Metrhods:Forty-five adult rats were randomly divided into a control group,a model group,and an Rg1 group.Each group included 15 rats.In the model and Rg1 groups,a high dose of methylprednisolone acetate(40 mg/kg)was injected into the gluteus medius muscle.In the Rg1 group,Rg1 was administered after the methylprednisolone acetate injection.After six weeks,all the animals were sacrificed and the pathological,biochemical,and phenotype parameters were analyzed.Results:The ratio of empty lacuna and adipose tissue in the bone marrow were significantly lower in the Rg1 group than in the model group.The microfocal-computed tomography results indicated that Rg1 improved the microstructure of the trabecular bone and increased bone mineral density in rats with steroid-induced osteonecrosis of the femoral head(ONFH).Rg1 also significantly improved hyperlipidemia in the steroid-induced ONFH rats.Moreover,Rg1 enhanced femoral head neovascularization by preventing blood vessel loss.Rg1 suppressed adipogenesis and oxidative stress by inhibiting peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor(PPAR?)expression in the femoral heads of the steroid-induced ONFH rats.Conclusions:Rg1 may protect rats against steroid-induced ONFH by suppressing adipogenesis and oxidative stress by inhibiting PPAR?.