Eur J Anat, 17 (2): 102-114 (2013)

Histological and morphometric effects of CdCl₂ and ginger on osteoporosis induced by bilateral ovariectomy in adult albino rats

Mohamed S. Mustafa¹, Omayma M. Mahmoud² and Hoda H. Hussein²

¹Orthopedic Department, Faculty of Medicine, Suez Canal University, Ismailia, Egypt,²Anatomy Department, Faculty of Medicine, Suez Canal University, Ismailia, Egypt

ABSTRACT Cadmium is a widespread environmental pollutant. Low-level environmental cadmium exposure induced osteoporosis especially in postmenopausal women. Ginger is a strong antioxidant that may play an important role in bone formation. The purpose of the present study was to assess the effects of cadmium chloride and ginger on osteoporosis induced by bilateral ovariectomy in adult albino rats. Seventy-two adult albino rat females were used in the present study. They were divided into non-operated groups and operated groups. Cadmium chloride was received at a dose of 3.5 mg/kg daily by subcutaneous injection for 8 weeks, and ginger was fed on a diet containing 5% ginger for 8 weeks. Rats were sacrificed; femurs were dissected out, fixed and decalcified. Serial transverse and longitudinal sections from the diaphysis and metaphysis of femurs were stained by haematoxylin and eosin (H&E) and Masson trichrome stainings and examined using light microscopy. Femurs of Cd-treated, ovariectomized non-treated, and ovariectomized +Cd-treated groups showed histological and morphometric osteoporotic changes that were marked and exaggerated in the ovariectomized +Cd-treated group. Whereas Cd+ginger, ovariectomized +Cd+ginger and ovariectomized+ginger treated groups showed less bone resorption, more bone formation, and improvement in bone structure and morphometric parameters compared to other groups. Cadmium chloride exposure is a risk factor for osteoporosis, especially in postmenopausal women. Ginger effectively ameliorated cadmium and ovariectomy-induced osteoporosis in rats, and is a promising candidate for the prevention and treatment of postmenopausal osteoporosis.

Keywords: Cadmium chloride, Ginger, Osteoporosis, Bilateral ovariectomy