Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research ›› 2011, Vol. 15 ›› Issue (32): 5913-5917.doi: 10.3969/j.issn.1673-8225.2011.32.006

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Effects of simvastatin on bone mass and bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells proliferation in rats

Liang Chun-yu1, Tian Fa-ming1, 2, Zhang Hui1, Zhang Liu1, 2, Zhang Ying-ze2   

  1. 1Department of Orthopedics, Affiliated Hospital of North China Coal Medical College, Tangshan  063000, Hebei Province, China
    2Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang  050017, Hebei Province, China
  • Received:2011-02-01 Revised:2011-03-14 Online:2011-08-06 Published:2011-08-06
  • Contact: Zhang Liu, Doctor, Professor, Chief physician, Doctoral supervisor, Department of Orthopedics, Affiliated Hospital of North China Coal Medical College, Tangshan 063000, Hebei Province, China; Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang 050017, Hebei Province, China zhliu130@sohu.com
  • About author:Liang Chun-yu★, Master, Associate chief physician, Department of Orthopedics, Affiliated Hospital of North China Coal Medical College, Tangshan 063000, Hebei Province, China
  • Supported by:

    Hundred Outstanding Innovative Talents Support Plan*; the Natural Science Foundation of Hebei Province, No. C2006000580*

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Abstract:

BACKGROUND: As a widely used lipid-lowering drug, simvastatin has been rarely reported addressing its effects on bone metabolism and proliferation and differentiation of bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs).  
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of simvastatin on bone mass and differentiation and proliferation of BMSCs in rats, as well as the expression levels of Smad1, 2, 7 mRNA.
METHODS: Sixteen 6-week-old female Sprague-Dawley rats were randomized into two groups of eight animals each: simvastatin group, administered daily with 20 mg/kg simvastatin by gavage for 9 weeks; control group, administered with distilled water for 9 weeks. All animals were sacrificed one day after the final administration. The left femora were removed for the measurement of bone histomorphometry and bone mineral density (BMD). BMSCs derived from the right femora and tibiae were cultured in osteoblastic differentiation-induced medium. Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) was used to assay the proliferation of BMSCs. Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity, ALP staining were performed on the 16th day and von Kossa staining on the 28th day. Real-time RT-PCR was used to evaluate the expression levels of mRNA of Smad1, 2, 7 at the 21st day.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: After being administrated with simvastatin for 9 weeks, the bone mass and BMD of rats had no significant change. The expression level of mRNA of Smad1, 2, 7 showed no significant change, so were the results of ALP activity, positive cell rate of ALP staining, von Kossa staining, and the proliferation of BMSCs. Administration with 20 mg/kg simvastatin for 9 weeks had no significant effect on bone mass and the differentiation and proliferation of BMSCs in rats, so were the expression levels of Smad1, 2, 7 mRNA.

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