Stimulatory effect of zinc on bone formation in tissue culture

The present investigation was undertaken to clarify the in vitro effect of zinc on bone metabolism in tissue culture. Calvaria were removed from weanling rats (3-week-old males) and cultured for periods up to 96 hr in Dulbecco's Modified Eagle Medium (high glucose, 4500 mg/dl) supplemented with antibiotics and bovine serum albumin. The experimental cultures contained 10(-7) to 10(-3) M zinc sulfate. All cultures were incubated at 37 degrees in 5% CO2/95% air. Zinc uptake by bone was increased significantly in cultures with concentrations of zinc greater than 10(-6) M. Bone calcium content was increased significantly by the presence of 10(-4) M zinc. This increase was blocked by the presence of 10(-6) M cycloheximide. Bone alkaline phosphatase activity was elevated in the presence of zinc (10(-6) to 10(-3) M), but the effect was inhibited by 10(-7) M cycloheximide or 10(-8) M actinomycin D. Zinc (10(-4) M) also significantly increased ATPase activity in the bone, whereas it did not alter significantly by pyrophosphatase, acid phosphatase and beta-N-acetylglucosaminidase activities. Furthermore, bone collagen content was raised by 10(-6) to 10(-4) M zinc. This elevation was prevented by 10(-7) cycloheximide or 10(-8) M actinomycin D. Bone DNA content and [3H]thymidine incorporation by the bone were not altered significantly by 10(-4) M zinc. These findings indicate that the zinc had a direct stimulatory effect on bone mineralization in vitro, and that bone protein synthesis was a necessary component of this response. Zinc may stimulate bone formation in tissue culture.