Cytological and ultrastructural investigation on osteoblastic and preosteoclastic cells grown in vitro in the presence of ipriflavone: preliminary results.

The effects of ipriflavone on bone cells were studied in vitro on pre-osteoclastic (FLG 29.1) and osteoblast-like (Saos-2) cells grown for 48 h either separately or in co-cultures, with or without the addition of PTH. Histological, ultrastructural and histochemical (TRAP-activity demonstration) methods were used. The main results show that ipriflavone reduces replication of FLG 29.1 cells and inhibits TRAP production by these cells both in controls and in co-cultures treated with PTH. Moreover, it has a moderate stimulatory effect on proliferation of osteoblast-like cells and reduces the PTH-induced degenerative changes of Saos-2 cells. These results suggest that the inhibitory effect of ipriflavone on FLG 29.1 cells might be indirect and might be mediated by the osteoblast-like cells.