We investigated whether treatments with beta-blockers or other administrations that have similar actions to beta-blockers, such as Chinese herbs or
needling, were effective in treating
osteoporosis induced by
ovariectomy (OVX). Female Wister rats were divided into five groups: a
sham-operated control group treated with vehicle (
Sham, n = 8), an ovariectomized (OVX) group treated with vehicle (Model, n = 8), an OVX group administered with
propranolol (Pro, n = 10), an OVX group administered an
ethanol extract of Fructus Citri Sarcodactylis (Fcs, n = 9), and an OVX punctured at Sanyinjiao (SP-6) and Neiguan (PC-6) (
Needling, n = 8). The treatment started when rats were 12 weeks old and continued for 24 weeks. Serum
osteocalcin and urinary
deoxypyridinoline (Dpd) levels were upregulated in rats in response to OVX, together with a significantly decreased BMD and trabecular bone area. The Pro, Fcs and
Needling treatment improved the decreased BMD and the trabecular area, increased the trabecular number, lowered the trabecular separation to some extent as well as significantly depressed the urinary Dpd levels (p < 0.05). The bone formation markers, such as the mineralizing surface,
mineral apposition rate and bone formation rate were not significantly changed, along with a slightly higher trend of
osteocalcin levels when compared with the Model rats. The slower heart rate and lower plasma NE levels in these therapeutic groups were also found. Our results suggested that
propranolol, Fcs and
needling on Sanyinjiao (SP-6) and Neiguan (PC-6) may improve the bone mass of OVX rats, and it provides an alternative and potential
therapy for the prevention of
postmenopausal osteoporosis.