Effects of sintered bovine bone on cell proliferation, collagen synthesis,and osteoblastic expression in MC3T3-E1 osteoblast-like cells

To determine the function of biomaterials on osteoblasts, we studied the ef fects of two different biomaterials, sintered bovine bone (true bone cerami c) and hydroxyapatite-related material, on DNA and collagen synthesis and o steoblastic expression in osteoblast-like cells in vitro. Osteoblasts cultu red with true bone ceramic exhibited greater increases in DNA and collageno us protein synthesis and alkaline phosphatase activity than those cultured with hydroxyapatite. Furthermore, expression of mRNA for type-I collagen an d osteocalcin, as assessed by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reacti on, was higher in cultures grown on true bone ceramic or hydroxyapatite tha n in those grown with glass fragments, and levels of gene expression in tru e bone ceramic and hydroxyapatite cultures were at almost the same level. T hese findings indicate that osteoblasts cultured with true bone ceramic inc rease their activity, suggesting that true bone ceramic may be a more favor able substrate than hydroxyapatite for growth and differentiation of osteob last-like cells.