Effects of serum containing traditional Chinese medicine on proliferation and differentiation of osteoblasts in vitro

Objective To study effects of serum containing traditional Chinese medicine on proliferation and differentiation of osteoblasts in vitro. Methods Osteoblasts were isolated from the skull of 3-7 day newly born rats and the medium was changed for that containing serum with absorbed Gusongkang. Proliferation and differentiation of osteoblasts were analyzed by flowcytometry and ALP activity analysis and osteocalcin immunohistochemical staining and number of calcium nodule. Results In the cells cultured by serum containing medicine, cellular proportion in S period increased, which indicates the increase of synthesis and propagation of cell DNA; ALP activity and osteocalcin expression significantly increased. The number of calcium nodule formed osteoblasts cultured by the serum fed with Gusongkang higher than that osteoblasts cultured by control serum (P0.01). Conclusion The serum from rats fed with Gusongkang can directly promote the proliferation and scretion and mineralization of cultured osteoblasts in vitro.