In vitro osteogenic differentiation of rat bone marrow cells subcultured with and without dexamethasone

The aim of our study was to investigate the osteogenic potential of subcultured rat bone marrow cells. Rat bone marrow (RBM) cells were cultured with or without dexamethasone. Subsequently, osteogenic differentiation and expression was studied. When cells were cultured continuously in the presence of dexamethasone, cultures initially showed high alkaline phosphatase expression and abundant mineralization. Expression of differentiation markers decreased with passaging. After cells were passaged three times, no alkaline phosphatase activity and calcification were found. Primary cells cultured without dexamethasone showed low alkaline phosphatase and no calcification, and remained fibroblast-like. When these cells were subcultured in the presence of dexamethasone, the cells did show osteogenic differentiation. Nevertheless, this occurred at a significant lower level than with cells continuously cultured with dexamethasone. In addition, no differentiation was found after second passage. Our results indicate that subcultured undifferentiated RBM cells show osteogenic differentiation after addition of dexamethasone. Expression of alkaline phosphatase and mineralization is higher in cells continuously supplemented with dexamethasone. Still, even when dexamethasone is added continuously, RBM cells loose their osteogenic potential after several passages. Therefore, we conclude that subculture of undifferentiated rat bone marrow cells results in the loss of osteogenic potential of these cells.