The effects of oestrogen on osteocalcin production by human periodontal ligament cells.

The purpose was to investigate the effects of oestradiol on the function of periodontal ligament (PDL) cells by measuring the production of osteocalcin in vitro. Cells were obtained from the healthy periodontal ligament of teeth extracted from two males and two females for orthodontic reasons. Serum-free medium was used when testing the effects of oestradiol on PDL cells. The amount of osteocalcin in the culture medium was analysed by two-step sandwich enzyme immunoassay in the presence or absence of oestradiol. It was shown that oestradiol enhanced the production of osteocalcin by PDL cells in a time- and dose-dependent manner. PDL cells obtained from both male and female donors were affected by oestradiol. It thus appears that oestradiol is one of the factors important for PDL cells to express their function.