Cow milk and its dairy products ameliorate bone toxicity in the Coragen-induced rat model

Abstract

Coragen is an insecticide that stimulates calcium release from intracellular stores of muscle cells causing death to sensitive species. The present study aimed to evaluate the bone toxic effect of Coragen and the potential therapeutic effect of cow milk, yogurt, and soft cheese in rats. Toxicity was induced by Coragen administration with different doses of 1/20 or 1/40 LD50 in rats. Groups of rats (n = 6) were treated with either 5 g milk, 5 g yogurt, or 1.5 g cheese. Coragen administration elevated alkaline and acid phosphatases activity and reduced the calcium and phosphorus level in urine and serum of rats administered with Coragen. Femur and tibia length, thickness, weight, and breaking force were decreased by Coragen administration and femur Ca and P contents as well. Bone mineral area (BMA), bone mineral content (BMC), bone mineral density (BMD), protein profile (total, albumin, and globulin), and antioxidant system (TAC, GSH, GPX, GST, and SOD) were decreased by Coragen. All these parameters were improved on the treatment with milk and milk products. The results showed that yogurt treatment was significantly superior to the other treatments in increasing BMD (27%), breaking force (9%), femur Ca (41%), serum Ca (14%), and serum P (16%) and in reducing acid phosphatases (14%) and urine Ca and P by 8 and 10%, respectively. It can be concluded that the treatment with milk and milk products may provide treatment against osteoporosis and toxicity caused by Coragen.

Keywords

• osteoporosis
• coragen
• cow milk
• yogurt
• soft cheese