OBJECTIVETo study the effects of musk ketone at different concentrations on in vivo migration of exogenous rat bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (rBMSCs), thus screening out the optimal therapeutic dose.

METHODSForty SD rats were randomly divided into 4 groups, 10 in each group. The rat model of skull defect was established using dental surgery. The primary rBMSCs were cultured by adherence screening method. The third passage cells were labeled by 10 micromol/L BrdU, and the labeled cells were injected into skull defect rats from the tail vein. Rats were administered with musk ketone at high, moderate and low concentration, respectively by gastrogavage, while equal volume of normal saline was administered to those in the blank control group by gastrogavage. Their skulls were taken out 14 days later, fixed, and decalcified. BrdU positive cells were counted under fluorescence microscope.

RESULTSAfter immunohistochemical processing, the gray scale analysis was preformed. There was statistical difference in the BrdU positive cell number between the blank control group and the low and moderate concentration musk ketone groups (P < 0.01). There was no statistical difference in the BrdU positive cell number between the blank control group and the high concentration musk ketone group (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONMusk ketone could accelerate the in vivo migration of exogenous stem cells, with the optimal effects obtained at moderate and low concentrations.