Effects of laminin on hard tissue formation by bone marrow cells <i>in vivo</i> and <i>in vitro</i>

Abstract

The effect of laminin on hard tissue formation using rat bone marrow cells was assessed. Rat bone marrow cells were obtained from femora of 6-week-old male Fischer 344 rats. In this in vivo examination, porous cylindrical hydroxyapatite scaffolds with a hollow center were immersed in 100 m g/ml laminin solution and air-dried. Rat bone marrow cells in 200 m l culture medium at 1 × 10 6 cells/ml were seeded in the scaffolds. The scaffolds were implanted into the dorsal subcutis of 7-week-old male Fischer 344 rats for 6 weeks. The scaffolds were then removed and examined histologically. For i n vitro examinations, 1 × 10 5 rat bone marrow cells in 2 ml culture medium were then cultured with the addition of dexamethasone and laminin. Rat bone marrow cells were also cultured in laminin-coated culture plates. In vitro examinations showed the effectiveness of laminin for hard tissue formation from the results of biochemical and immunochemical analysis. From the in vivo examination, laminin coating of the scaffolds induced hard tissue in the pores with the cells. It is concluded that laminin is useful for bone formation, as in an in vitro culture study using bone marrow cells, in hydroxyapatite scaffolds in vivo .