AIMTo study the long-term effects of 17 beta-estradiol (E2) on cell proliferation, 45Ca up-take, and mineralized bone-like tissue formation in human osteoblast-like cell line TE85.

METHODSHuman osteoblast-like cell line TE85 was used as osteoblast cell model. Using methods of 3H-thymidine incorporation for cell proliferation and 45Ca deposit for calcium uptake, and Alizarin red S dye for mineralized bone-like tissue.

RESULTSCompared with the cells of control group, 3H-thymidine incorporation into TE85 cells was significantly increased (85.65%, 93.42% and 106.58%, respectively) and 45Ca uptake was increased (101.35%, 130.9% and 169.5% respectively), after treated with E2 (0.1, 1.0, 10 nmol.L-1) for 14 days. The stained area of Alizarin red S in E2 treated cells was also increased obviously. ICI182,780, a specific antagonist of estrogen receptor, was shown to partly inhibit E2 induced actions with the inhibition ratio of 19.6% or 37.28% in both experiments of 3H-TdR and 45Ca uptake on the condition of E2 (1.0 nmol.L-1).

CONCLUSIONE2 was found to increase the mineralized bone-like tissue by enhancement of cell proliferation and promotion of calcium uptake, which were in favor of bone formation. These actions may be partly mediated by estrogen receptor.