Ramelteon used to treat insomnia can reduce the occurrence of osteoporosis

Aim: Melatonin promoted osteoblast differentiation and causes an increase in levelsof markers of bone differentiation and proliferation. Ramelteon (RAMEL) activatesmelatonin receptors and binds to these receptors as non-selective. In this study, weinvestigated the preventive effects of the melatonin agonist RAMEL on osteoporosisby radiological, histological, and molecularly.Methods: Groups 1: Control, Group 2: Osteoporosis: Overectomized group (OP),Group 3: OP + ramelteon 2 mg/kg, Group 4: OP + ramelteon 4 mg/kg. 24 animalsunderwent bilateral ovariectomy. RAMEL was administered orally once a day in theprophylactic treatment mode for 8 weeks, 6 weeks after ovariectomy.Results: Fourteen weeks after ovariectomy, there was a significant reduction infemoral bone mineral density (BMD) (g/cm2) in the OP group compared to the controlgroup. Compared to the OP group, RAMEL treatment significantly increased the BMDlevel (p<0.05). Bone matrix protein 2 (BMP2) and runt-related transcription factor 2(RUNX2) mRNA levels were significantly lower in the OP group than in the controlgroup (p<0.05). RUNX2 and BMP2 mRNA levels were significantly higher in theRAMEL treatment groups than in the OP group (p<0.05).Conclusion: To take advantage of the peripheral effects of melatonin, RAMEL, aperipheral melatonin agonist, can be used to prevent osteoporosis.