Effect of Insulin and Hydrocortisone on the Proliferation of Chondrocytes

Objective: To observe the effects of insulin and hydrocortisone on the proliferation of chondrocytes.Method:Chondrocytes were isolated and subcultured from the knees joints of New Zealand white rabbits,while insulin,hydrocortisone or insulin and hydrocortisone were added to cell culture media,the cellular proliferation was assayed by MTT method.Results:insulin could enhance the proliferation of chondrocytes at the concentration of 0.035μg/ml (P0.01),and the enhancement reach the maximum at the concentration of 0.35μg/ml(P0.01).10μg/ml hydrocortisone inhibited the proliferation of chondrocytes significantly (P0.05),as the concentration increased to 100μg/ml,no viable chondrocytes were noticed.When the chondrocytes were treated with 0.35μg/ml insulin and 50μg/ml hydrocortisone,the action of insulin was inhibited.Conclusions:insulin at low concentration enhanced the proliferation of the chondrocytes,but hydrocortison could inhibit the growth of the chondrocytes.However,combinations of insulin and hydrocortisone showed that the action of insulin was inhibited by hydrocortison.