Related Experiment Videos
Fluoride stimulates [3H]thymidine incorporation and alkaline phosphatase production by human osteoblasts
1Department of Chemical Pathology and Human Metabolism, Royal Free Hospital, London, UK.
Abstract:
The effect of sodium fluoride on alkaline phosphatase (ALP) release and [3H]thymidine uptake by human osteoblasts in culture was investigated. Sodium fluoride stimulated both ALP release and [3H]thymidine uptake at concentrations of sodium fluoride greater than 250 mumol/L. This stimulation was similar in magnitude to that induced by 1,25-dihydroxycholecalciferol. The fluoride-induced increase in ALP was inhibited by verapamil, a calcium channel blocker. We conclude that sodium fluoride stimulates osteoblasts to proliferate and to release ALP. This stimulation by fluoride is dependent on calcium influx. Fluoride-induced stimulation of human osteoblasts may be relevant to its effect in enhancing bone formation in patients with osteoporosis.