Effect of copper on the expression of IGF-1 from chondrocytes in newborn piglets in vitro

The experiment was performed to evaluate the influence of copper supplementation on insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) mRNA expression in chondrocytes of newborn pigs. Chondrocytes were isolated and cultured in media containing 15% fetal calf serum supplemented with 0, 15.6, 31.2, and 62.5 μmol/L copper in 90-mm culture plate. After 0, 12, 24, and 48 h, total RNA was isolated from chondrocytes. Then, IGF-1 mRNA expression was determined by semiquantitative RT-PCR. The results showed that the expression of IGF-1 mRNA, adjusted for β-actin expression, was increased in the culture media added to 15.6, 31.2, and 62.5 μmol/L copper, respectively. In the present experiment, the optimal copper concentration and optimal culture time for the expression of IGF-1 mRNA were 31.2 μmol/L and 48 h, respectively.