EFFECT OF BETA-ALANYL-L-HISTIDINATO ZINC ON DIFFERENTIATION OF OSTEOBLASTIC MC3T3-E1 CELLS - INCREASES IN ALKALINE-PHOSPHATASE ACTIVITY ANDPROTEIN-CONCENTRATION

The effect of beta-alanyl-L-histidinato zinc (AHZ) on bone cell functi on was investigated in osteoblastic MC3T3-E1 cells. Cells were culture d for 3 days at 37-degrees-C in a CO2 incubator in plastic dishes cont aining alpha-modified minimum essential medium supplemented with 10% f etal bovine serum. After the cultures, the medium was exchanged for th at containing 0.1% bovine serum albumin plus AHZ (10(-7)-10(-5) M) or other reagents, and the cells were cultured further for appropriate pe riods of time. The presence of AHZ (10(-7)-10(-5) M) produced a remark able increase of alkaline phosphatase activity and protein concentrati on in osteoblastic cells. Thus increases were seen with the prolonged cultivation (12-21 days). With the culture of 1, 3 and 12 days, the ef fect of AHZ (10(-6) M) to increase alkaline phosphatase activity and p rotein concentration was more intensive than the effect of zinc sulfat e (10(-6) M). The AHZ effects were completely abolished by the presenc e of cycloheximide (10(-6) M), indicating that AHZ stimulates protein synthesis in the cells. The present study suggests that AHZ has a stim ulatory effect on cell differentiation, and that this effect is partly involved on protein synthesis in osteoblastic cells.