Puerarin inhibits differentiation of marrow stromal cells into adipocytes induced by alcohol

Objective To observe the effects of inhibition of puerarin on differentiation of marrow stromal cells into adipocytes induced by alcohol by the methods of cell biology and thus to study the effect of puerarin on preventing alcoholic osteonecrosis. Methods Marrow stromal cells (MSCs) were isolated from mice bone marrow, obtained and cultured. MSCs were randomly separated by 3 groups: Group A: the cells were treated with 0. 09 mol/L alcohol; Group B: the cells were treated with 0. 09 mol/L alcohol and 0. 01 mg/ml puerarin; Group C : the cells were treated without alcohol or puerarin as control. The cells in culture were stained with Sudan Ⅲ , and then the number of adipocytes were counted on a light microscope. The contents of triglyceride and alkaline phosphatase activity in cells were determined by biochemical assay; the contents of osteocalcin in the media were determined by radioimmunoassay. Results The number of adipocytes and the contents of triglyceride in the cells in Group B were significantly lower than that in Group A. The alkaline phosphatase activity values and the contents of the osteocalcin in the media in Group B were significantly higher than that in Group A (P 0. 001 ) . There was no significant statistical difference between Group B and Group C ( P 0. 05 ) . Conclusion Puerarin could inhibit differentiation of marrow stromal cells into adipocytes induced by alcohol, thus maintain the normal procedure of osteogenic differentiation, which may prevent the development of osteonecrosis.