Icariin Augments Bone Formation and Reverses the Phenotypes of Osteoprotegerin-Deficient Mice through the Activation of Wnt/β-Catenin-BMP Signaling
Figure 3
Icariin promoted bone strength in OPG-deficient mice. To further determine if treatment with Icariin improves biomechanical properties of bone, a three-point bending test was performed on femoral shaft samples obtained from three different groups. Data were expressed as mean ± SD, . Deletion of the OPG gene caused a dramatic reduction in maximal force (a), yield force (b), bone stiffness (c), and bone energy (d). Treatment with Icariin significantly reversed the reduced maximal force, stiffness, and energy in OPG KO mice. , unpaired Student’s t-test (OPG KO + VEH group versus OPG WT + VEH group) and , unpaired Student’s t-test (OPG KO + ICN group versus OPG KO + VEH group).
