Effects of serum containing Migu-Dalaoer pill on functions of osteoblasts and osteoclasts in their co-culture system

AIM: To study the effect of the serum containing Migu-Dalaoer pill(MDP) on the activity of osteoblast(OB) and osteoclast(OC) in their co-culture system.METHODS: OB was isolated from the calvaria of fetal SD rats by means of modified sequential collagenase digestion and OC was from the thighbone and shinbone of 1-day-old SD rats.OB and OC co-culture system was built under the condition of preventing these 2 kinds of cells from contact with each other and keeping the medium exchange free.The serum containing MDP at high,mediate and low doses was used to treat the OB and OC in the co-culture system.The osteogenic activity of OB was evaluated by MTT assay and determination of alkaline phosphatase(ALP) activity.The resorption activity of OC was investigated by observing the activity of tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase(TRAP) and the number of OC bone absorption lacuna.RESULTS: Compared with normal group,high and mediate doses of MDP significantly increased the OB quantity and the ALP activity,and significantly decreased the number of OC bone absorption lacuna and the TRAP activity at 6 d and 7 d in OB and OC co-culture system.CONCLUSION: The serum containing MDP promotes OB proliferationm and bone formation,and inhibits OC bone resorption in OB and OC co-culture system.