The Therapeutic Effects of Combination Therapy with Curcumin and Alendronate on Spine Fusion Surgery in the Ovariectomized Rats

Abstract

Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the therapeutic effects of combination therapy with curcumin and alendronate on spine fusion surgery in ovariectomized rats.

Methods: Thirty-two female Sprague-Dawley rats (12 weeks old) underwent bilateral ovariectomy (OVX). Eight weeks after surgery, animals underwent intertransverse spine fusion at L4-5. The rats were randomly distributed amongst 4 groups; untreated OVX group, curcumin administered group, alendronate administered group, and the combination therapy group. At 8 weeks after fusion surgery, the animals were sacrificed and the fusion mass was assessed by manual palpation, radiographic scan, and micro-computed tomographic scan. In addition, mechanical strength was determined by a 3-point bending test.

Results: Based on the results of manual palpation testing and 3-dimensional micro-computed tomography scanning, solid bone fusion rate was 50% (4 of 8) in the OVX group, 75% (6 of 8) in the alendronate-only and curcumin-only group, and 87.5% (7 of 8) in the combination therapy group, respectively. The combination therapy group had a higher fusion rate compared with the other treatment groups, though not statistically significantly (p>0.05). And the combination therapy group had a significant increase in fusion volume at 8 weeks after spine fusion surgery compared with curcumin-only group (p=0.039). The 3-point bending test showed that combination therapy group had a significantly greater maximal load value compared to that of curcumin-only group (p=0.024).

Conclusion: The present study demonstrated that additional treatment of curcumin and alendronate after spine fusion surgery in rat can promote higher fusion volume, and improve bone mechanical strength.

Keywords: Bone fusion; Curcumin; Osteoporosis; Ovariectomy; Rat.

Fig. 1

Representative posteroanterior radiographs of the spine in the ovariectomy (OVX) and experimental groups. The combination therapy group had larger fusion masses compared than other groups.

Fig. 2

Representative micro-computed tomography (CT) images of the fused lumbar spine. (A) Axial CT images. (B) Three-dimensional reconstruction images. OVX, ovariectomy.

Fig. 3

Graph showing fusion volume after 8 weeks after spine fusion surgery. The combination therapy group had a significantly higher fusion volume compared with the curcumin-only group. *p<0.05 for the combination therapy group vs. the curcumin-only group. OVX, ovariectomy.

Fig. 4

The 3-point bending test showing the loading force to the maximal load on the fusion mass in L4 and L5 vertebra. *p<0.05 for the values of the combination therapy group compared with that of the curcumin-only group. OVX, ovariectomy.