Effects of Icariin on expression of OPN mRNA and type I collagen in rat osteoblasts in vitro.

To study the effects of Icariin on expression of osteopontin (OPN) mRNA and type I collagen in rat osteoblasts in vitro and to explore its possible mechanisms in preventing osteoporosis. OB was isolated from calvaria of new-born new-born fetal Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats by means of modified sequential collagenase digestion and incubated in MEM medium and the cell morphology was observed under inverted phase contrast microscope, OB was identified by alkaline phosphatase (ALP) staining. Different concentration (0.1 microg/mL, 1.0 microg/ml, 10 microg/mL) of Icariin was added to the OB and incubated. The effect of Icariin on the proliferation and osteogenesis of OB was monitored by MTT analysis. The expression of type I collagen was estimated with immunohistochemistry techniques. The expression levels of mRNA of OPN in the cells in every group were examined by reverse-transcriptase ploymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The expression of OPN mRNA and type I collagen was strengthened gradually with the increase of Icariin concentration and peaked with 10 microg/mL Icariin on the 5th day. Icariin could significantly promote the expression of OPN mRNA and type I collagen in rat osteoblasts in vitro. The levels of expression of OPN mRNA and type I collagen were changed with different concentration of Icariin. Icariin could effectively prevent and treat osteoporosis and promote the bone formation.