RESUMO
BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to assess mRNA of IL-6, TNFα and IL-10 cytokines in bone marrow, possible mediators involved in altered bone remodeling with detrimental consequences on bone quality in NGR (Nutritional growth retardation) rats. METHODS: Weanling male Wistar rats were assigned either to control (C) or experimental group (NGR) (n=20 each). C and NGR groups were assigned to 2 groups according to receiving saline solution (SS) or propranolol hydrochloride (P): C, C+P (CP), NGR or NGR+P (NGRP). For 4 weeks, NGR and NGRP rats received 80% of the amount of food consumed by C and CP, respectively, the previous day, corrected by body weight. P (7 mg/kg/day) was injected ip 5 days/week, for 4 weeks in CP and NGRP rats. Body weight and length were recorded. After 4 weeks, blood was drawn. Femurs were dissected for RNA isolation from bone marrow and mRNA of cytokines assays. RESULTS: Food restriction induced a significant negative effect on body growth in NGR and NGRP rats (p<0.001). P had no effects on zoometric parameters (p>0.05). CTX-I increased in NGR rats vs. C (p<0.001), but diminished in NGRP (p<0.01). Serum osteocalcin, PTH, calcium and phosphate levels remained unchanged between groups (p>0.05). In NGR, bone marrow IL-6 mRNA and IL-10 mRNA levels were low as compared to other groups (p<0.05). In contrast, bone marrow TNF-α mRNA levels were significantly high (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: This study provides evidences that NGR outcomes in a bone marrow proinflammatory microenvironment leading to unbalanced bone remodeling by enhancement of bone resorption reverted by propranolol.