Isolation and characterization of rat alveolar bone cells.

Samples of rat alveolar bone were first treated by collagenase digestion and then used as explants for cell culture. The cells obtained were subcultured and characterized by morphological and functional criteria. Their alkaline phosphatase activity was increased after incubation in 1,25-(OH)2 vitD3 10(-8) M whereas with gingival cells it did not change. The bone derived-cells organized nodular structures, synthesized type I collagen, Gla-protein, few type III collagen, and fibronectin. In the defined culture conditions no mineralization was observed. However, the method used allows to obtain cells from rat alveolar bone displaying some features of the osteoblastic phenotype.