Ovariectomy and its Antioxidative Effect on Bone

Ovarian hormone deficiency increases the generation of reactive oxygen species. Oxidative stress due to reactive oxygen species (ROS) can cause oxidative damage to cells. Cells have a number of defense mechanisms to protect themselves from the toxicity of ROS. There is increasing evidence of the role of free radicals in bone resorption and bone loss. Ovariectomised female wistar rats had been used as the animal model for the study of osteoporosis. Even though, there are studies portraying the role of free radicals in bone loss, the defense mechanism adapted by bone in ovariectomised animals remains obscure. So, the impact of ovariectomy on the bone antioxidant system in rats was investigated. Twenty female wistar rats were taken and divided into two groups: ovariectomised and control. It had been found that a significant (p<0.001) decrease in the activity of various enzymes like CAT (catalase), SOD (superoxide dismutase) (p<0.001), GST (glutathione-s-transferase). However, an increase in the malondialdehyde levels was found to be 30% in the ovariectomised rats as compared to the controls. Thus the study elucidates the oxidative stress in bone under ovariectomy.