Raloxifene Stimulates Estrogen Signaling to Protect Against Age- and Sex-Related Intervertebral Disc Degeneration in Mice.

ABSTRACT: Estrogen agonist raloxifene is an FDA-approved treatment of osteoporosis in postmenopausal women, which may also be a promising prophylactic for painful intervertebral disc (IVD) degeneration. Here, we hypothesized that 1) aging and biological sex contribute to IVD degeneration by reducing estrogen signaling and that 2) raloxifene stimulates estrogen signaling to protect against age- and sex-related IVD degeneration in mice. 2.5-month-old (male and female) and 22.5-month-old (female) C57Bl/6J mice were subcutaneously injected with raloxifene hydrochloride 5x/week for 6 weeks (n = 7-9/grp). Next, female mice were ovariectomized (OVX) or sham operated at 4 months of age and tissues harvested at 6 months (n = 5-6/grp). Advanced aging and OVX increased IVD degeneration score, wea

SUBMITTER: Bhadouria N 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9404526 | biostudies-literature | 2022

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature