Integrated Dose–Effect Relationship of Near-Infrared Light-Emitting Diode Light on Bone Regeneration in Disuse Osteoporosis Rats

Abstract

Objective:

To examine the integrated dose–effect relationship of near-infrared (NIR) light-emitting diode (LED) light therapy in promoting bone defect repair in the rat model for osteoporosis (OP).

Background:

Low-intensity laser therapy has been shown to promote bone regeneration in OP rats. However, its integrated dose–effect relationship is not clear.

Methods:

Twenty-week-old male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly assigned to 11 groups: (1) no-treatment control group (C group), (2) tail suspension (TS)-induced disuse OP experimental group (TS-OP group), and (3) OP rats with LED light treatment at nine dosages (L1–L9 groups). The tail of the rat was tied and suspended on the beam of the cage to suspend their hind limbs to induce bone loss for 4 or 7 weeks. The rats were then released and returned to their regular positions. An NIR LED at 810 nm was used on the bilateral hind limbs daily for 4 weeks. The C group rats were not given any treatment. The TS-OP group rats were subjected to identical procedures with L groups, with the exception that the light power was not turned on. After the experiment, the dual-energy X-rays or the microcomputed tomography scan analysis was performed to evaluate bone tissue status. Data analysis was done using SPSS and the health scale.

Results:

The trabecular thickness, trabecular number, bone volume/total volume, and connectivity density of cancellous bone and the biomechanical properties of femur in light groups were significantly increased compared with the TS-OP group, while the trabecular separation and structure model index were significantly decreased.

Conclusions:

NIR LED light therapy may promote trabecular bone repair of TS-OP rats. Light intensity influences photobiomodulation. In our dose levels, the greater the light intensity, usually the more effective.