Estrogen promotes the onset and development of idiopathic scoliosis via disproportionate endochondral ossification of the anterior and posterior column in a bipedal rat model

Abstract

Orthopedics: Staying ahead of the curve Treatments that reduce estrogen levels may prevent the development of spinal curvature associated with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis, curvature of the spine. Estrogen has been linked to scoliosis in the past, but the nature of this relationship remains controversial. Researchers led by Caixia Xu and Peiqiang Su of the First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University in Guangzhou, China, used a rat scoliosis model to assess how the absence of estrogen influences the onset and severity of this disorder. They demonstrate that rats with greatly reduced estrogen levels (resulting from ovary removal) have a lower incidence of scoliosis than untreated females, with affected animals exhibiting milder spinal curvature.The researchers observed similar lower incidence in female rats treated with triptorelin, a drug that dramatically reduces estrogen levels, further supporting a prominent role for this hormone in spinal development.