AJP - Renal Physiology, Vol 264, Issue 5 882-F890, Copyright © 1993 by American Physiological Society

ARTICLES

Aluminum inhibits bone nodule formation and calcification in vitro

S. M. Sprague, N. S. Krieger and D. A. Bushinsky
Nephrology Program, University of Chicago, Illinois 60637.

Cells isolated from neonatal mouse calvariae can be induced to form mineralized nodules after exposure to ascorbic acid and beta-glycerophosphate. To determine whether aluminum inhibits nodule formation and subsequent mineralization, cells isolated from neonatal mouse calvariae were induced to form nodules and incubated with increasing concentrations of aluminum (10(-7) to 10(-5) M). Compared with control and 10(-7) M aluminum-supplemented cultures, the number of nodules formed and the number of nodules calcified were reduced in cells incubated with 10(-6) and 10(-5) M aluminum. The cumulative net calcium uptake into the nodules and their final calcium content were also decreased with 10(-6) and 10(-5) M aluminum. After 10 and 18 days of incubation, aluminum did not affect DNA synthesis or release of alkaline phosphatase but significantly inhibited collagen production. Thus aluminum induced a dose-dependent inhibition of nodule formation and calcification that may be related to its inhibition of collagen production.

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