THE USE OF RAT, RABBIT OR HUMAN BONE-MARROW-DERIVED CELLS FOR CYTOCOMPATIBILITY EVALUATION OF METALLIC ELEMENTS

Rat, rabbit and human bone marrow cells were cultured according to the method previously reported for cells of rat origin [1] and were expos ed, or not (control), to corrosion products of a Co-Cr orthopaedic all oy as well as to metal salts containing Co2+, Cr3+ and Cr6+. Cells wer e cultured for 21 days and analysed for the following biochemical para meters: intracellular MTT reduction (i.e. cell viability/proliferation ), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity and protein production. Morphol ogical observations included both histochemistry (detection of ALP-pos itive cells, calcium and phosphate deposits) and scanning electron mic roscopy (SEM). Control cultures of rat and rabbit cells showed higher proliferation rates than human cells at the sta rt of cu Itu re, but t hey all reached similar values on day 21. Protein production was paral lel to cell proliferation. In contrast, ALP activity of rat cultures w as much stronger than rabbit or human cultures. All cell types were ab le to develop the osteogenic phenotype in vitro. Co-Cr extract caused inhibitory effects on cell viability, on ALP activity and, to a lower extent, on protein production of all rat, rabbit and human cell cultur es. Compared to rat and rabbit cultures, human cultures were the most sensitive to metal ions exposure.