Effect of ovariectomy on biological characteristics of MSCs from SD rats

AIM: To investigate the effects of ovariectomy on the biological characteristics of the mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) derived from the osteoporotic (OP) SD rats and normal rats by comparing the morphology, growth curve and cell cycle. METHODS: Female SD rats of 10-month old were randomly divided into model group and sham operation group (10 rats in each group). The osteoporotic model was established by ovariectomy. Twelve weeks after ovariectomy, the MSCs were isolated from normal and OP rats, and purified by differential time adherent method. The morphological difference of the MSCs between normal and OP rats was observed under inverted phase contrast microscope, transmission electronic microscope (TEM) and scanning electronic microscope (SEM). The growth curves of the MSCs were detected by MTT method. The cell cycles of the MSCs were determined by flow cytometry. RESULTS: Compared to the MSCs from normal rats, the morphology of the MSCs form OP rats became wider and flatter, the cell organelles were decreased and the cell viability was descended. The differentiation of the MSCs from OP rats into adipocytes appeared and the cell multiplication capacity was declined. CONCLUSION: The cell morphology of the MSCs derived from rats with ovariectomy changes obviously and the cell multiplication capacity is decreased.