Objective To investigate the dose-effect effects of th ree relating bone growth factors, dexamethasone, recombinant human basic fibro blastic growth factor (rhFGF) and recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein- 2 (rhBMP-2), on proliferation and differentiation of periosteal cells so as to provide experimental basis for their further application in bone tissue engineer ing. Methods Periosteal cells were isolated and cultured in vitro and then exposed to dexamethasone (10 -8 mol/L, 10 -7 mol/L and 10 -6 mol/L), rhFGF (50 ng/ml, 200 ng/ml and 500 ng/ml) and rhBMP-2 (50 n g/ml, 500 ng/ml and 1 000 ng/ml) respectively. At the 4th and 7th days respectiv ely, the culture stopped and the total protein and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) ac tivities were measured. ResultsDexamethasone at concentratio n of 10 -6 mol/L significantly inhibited protein synthesis without obvious effects on ALP expression. The rhFGF at various concentrations significantly pro moted cell proliferation but inhibited ALP activity. The rhBMP-2 at various con centrations exerted insignificant effect on cell proliferation. In comparison, A LP expression was significantly enhanced by treatment of rhBMP-2 at concentrati on of 500 ng/ml and 1 000 ng/ml ( P