Abstract: Objective: To investigate the effects of Bushen Zhuanggu granule on the expressions of serum growth hormone (GH) and insulin-like growth factor-1(IGF-1) and their receptors in bone tissues of ovariectomized rats. Methods: Forty-eight SD female rats (weight 273±21.3 g) were divided into 4 four groups: the dosage of Bushen Zhuanggu granule group (BSZG) was 2.5 g/(kg·d),the do -sage of estradiol group(E₂) was 0.071mg/(kg·d),sham group (SHAM) and ovariectomized model group (OVX group) were given the same amount of saline by oral administration.Each group included 12 rats,the treatments were conducted once a day. After 3 and 6 months of treatment,bone mineral density (B -MD) was measured by bone density instrument;the serum levels of GH and IGF-1 were detected by EL-ISA;the expressions of GHR and IGF-1R of bone tissue were detected by qPCR;the optical density(OD)value and positive cell count of pituitary GH immunohistochemical tablets were analyzed by Image J software,respectively. Results: ①After 3 months intervention,compared with the SHAM, the BMD of the spine in E₂ group was increased(P＜0.05),and the BMD of both parts in BSZG group were increased(P＜0.05).After two stage intervention,BMD of both part in the two drug groups was higher than that in the OVX group(P＜0.05).②After two-stage intervention,the expression levels of serum GH and IGF-1,GHR and IGF-1R in BSZG group were higher than those in OVX group (P＜0.05).The levels of serum GH and it's receptors in the E₂ group were increased (P＜0.05), but the serum IGF-1 level remained unchanged (P＞0.05) or even was decreased (P＜0.05).③After two stage in -tervention,the OD values and the positive cells count in the two drug intervention groups were increased (P＞0.05).④Pearson correlation analysis showed that serum GH,IGF-1 concentration and it's receptors in bone tissue were positively related with BMD. Serum GH concentration was positively correlated with OD values and number of positive cells. Conclusion: Bushen Zhuanggu granule can be used to improve the expressions of GH,IGF-1 in serum and its receptors in bone tissues of ovariectomized osteoporosis rats to prevent further loss of bone mass and increase bone mineral density.

Key words: Bushen Zhuanggu granule, postmenopausal osteoporosis, growth hormone, insulin-like growth factor-1, bone mineral density, estradiol