Abstract: Abstract：Objective To observe the effect of Chinese herbal compound Shenshuai Nutrition Capsule (SSYYJN) on bone metabolism and BMP-2 expression in bone tissue of rats with renal osteodystrophy (ROD). Methods Forty male SD rats were randomly divided into the control group (n=10) and the modeling group (n=30). Rats of modeling group were treated with 5/6 nephrectomy and high-phosphorus drinking water to induce renal osteodystrophy. Then they were randomly divided into model group, calcitriol (VD) group and SSYYJN group (n=10 for each group). The VD group was administered intragastrically with calcitriol suspension at 0.01 mg / kg, and the SSYYJN group was administered intragastrically with SSYYJN suspension at 1.2 g / kg. Model group and control group were given the same amount of normal saline. The intervention lasted for 12 weeks. Then, the body weight and the serum levels of creatinine (Scr), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), blood calcium (Ca2+), blood phosphorus (P3-), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and immunoreactive parathyroid hormone(iPTH) concentration were measured before and after treatment in three groups of rats. Femur bone mineral density (BMD) was detected by dual-energy X-ray, and the expression of bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP-2) was detected by Western blot (WB) assay. Results Compared with model group and VD group, the body weight was markedly increased in SSYYJN group, the BUN and Scr levels, which indicated renal function, were remarkably reduced. For bone metabolism indexes, the blood Ca2+ levels were increased, and the levels of blood P3- , ALP and iPTH were markedly reduced. All the above differences were statistically significant (P＜0.05). After treatment with SSYYJN, the femur BMD and the expression of BMP-2 were significantly higher than those in the model group (P＜0.05). Conclusion Shenshuai Nutrition Capsule can significantly improve bone metabolism in rats with 5/6 nephrectomy and renal osteodystrophy and delay the progression of renal osteodystrophy, which may be related to the up-regulation of BMP-2 expression

Key words: bone diseases, metabolic, chronic kidney disease, BMP-2, TCM therapy, Shenshuai nutrition capsule