ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>The activity of deer serum albumin on proliferation of rat osteogenic-like cells UMR-106 and the IGF-I secretion were investigated in order to elucidate pilose antler's bone-strengthening mechanism.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>Deer serum albumin was isolated from freeze-dry pilose antler powder extract. The methods were Sephacryl S-200HR gel filtration, POROS 20QE ion-exchange and TSK G3000SW chromatographies. The effect of deer serum albumin on proliferatio of UMR-106 cells was assaied by MTT, and the secretion of IGF-I of UMR-106 cells was assaied by RIA.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>Deer serum albumin, with the molecular weight of 56.3 kDa, significantly increased the proliferation rate of the osteoblast-like UMR-106 cell and IGF-I secretion. When concentration of deer serum albumin reached 0.149 microg x mL(-1), UMR-106 cell proliferation rate was 241.03% and IGF-I secretion was 66.89 ng x mL(-1).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The concentration of deer serum albumin, from 14.9 ng x mL(-1) to 14.90 microg x mL(-1), significantly increased the proliferation rate of the osteoblast-like UMR-106 cell and IGF- I secretion.</p>