Vitex agnus-castus essential oil affects thyroid C cells and bone metabolism in middle-aged male rats

Abstract

Ageing in men is accompanied by an increased occurrence of osteoporosis, but traditional hormonal replacement therapy elevates the risk of developing endocrine cancer. Vitex agnus-castus L. (Vac) essential oil is commonly used as an alternative therapy for ageing symptoms in both men and women. It is known that calcitonin (CT), thyroid C cell hormone, inhibits bone resorption. The purpose of this experimental study was to investigate the influence of Vac essential oil administration on the immunohistomorphometric features of thyroid C cells and bone metabolism in 16-month-old male Wistar rats. The first group of animals (n=8) was treated subcutaneously (s.c.) with 60 mg/kg of Vac essential oil once a day for 3 weeks. Control animals (n=8) received sterile olive oil s.c. by the same schedule. After Vac treatment significant increases (p<0.05) were found in the volume of C cells (by 10%) and serum CT level (by 27%) compared with the controls. Serum osteocalcin (OC) and calcium (Ca2+) levels were 31% and 8% lower (p<0.05) respectively, in comparison with the control group. These are the first experimental results suggesting that Vac essential oil stimulates thyroid C cells activity and decreases bone turnover in middle-aged male rats.