Effects of Lead on Vitality, Differentiation, Special Markers and Morphological Changes of Osteoblasts in Newborn Rats / 环境与健康杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To investigate the effects of lead on the vitality, differentiation, special functional markers and morphological changes of the osteoblasts in newborn rats, which helps to clarify the toxicity mechanism of lead on the skeleton development in children. Methods The osteoblasts were isolated from the calvariae in newborn Wistar rats and cultured in DMEM medium. Lead acetate at different concentration (0, 0.1, 0.5, 1, 5, 10, 50, 100 ?mol/L) was added for 24 h, 48 h, 72 h. The vitality of the osteoblasts was measured by MTT methods; The activity of alkaline phosphatase(ALP) was measured by pNPP method. The protein content of the osteoblasts was determined by Coomassie brilliant blue method. The levels of osteocalcin in both secreted (in medium) and cellular of osteoblasts were determined by radiate immunochemistry methods. The optical structure was determined by LM. Results The vitality decreased significantly when the dose was at more than 50 ?mol/L, especially after 72 h. The activity of ALP decreased significantly when more than 0.5 ?mol/L, whereas the levels of secreted osteocalcin decreased significantly when at 0.1 ?mol/L. It appeared lead had some toxicity on the shape and number on the osteoblasts. Conclusion Lead acetate has adverse effect, at higher doses, on the vitality, protein content, ALP, osteocalcin and optical structure, maybe it is one of the mechanisms of lead influencing the development of the osteoblasts even the skeleton.