ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: The aim of the present study is to assess the osteogenic differentiation of rat bone marrow stromal cells (RBMCs) in ß-tricalcium phosphate (ß-TCP) blocks containing extracellular matrix (ECM) produced by human alveolar bone periosteal cells (HABPCs). METHODS: HABPCs were cultured in ß-TCP blocks for 1 week (group 1) and 2 weeks (group 2). ß-TCP blocks containing ECM were then created by drying the blocks for 3 days. RBMCs were cultured in the blocks containing ECM for 2 weeks. In the control group, RBMCs were cultured in ß-TCP blocks alone for 2 weeks. HABPCs and RBMCs in the blocks were examined by histologic and immunohistochemical analyses. RESULTS: Histology revealed a significantly higher number of HABPCs in the group 2 blocks than in the group 1 blocks. HABPCs produced several bone matrix proteins in the blocks, and these positive reactions in group 2 were significantly higher than in group 1. Both groups showed a significantly higher number of RBMCs than the control group. RBMCs produced osteopontin and osteocalcin in the blocks, and these positive reactions were significantly higher in both test groups than in the control group. The number of osteocalcin-positive reactions was higher in group 2 than in group 1. CONCLUSION: Osteogenic differentiation of RBMCs cultured for 2 weeks in ß-TCP blocks containing ECM was significantly higher than that of cells cultured for 1 week or without ECM.
