The effect of ascorbic acid on the metabolism of rat calvarial bone cells in vitro

Abstract

Addition of 50 μg/ml sodium ascorbate to confluent cultures of isolated rat calvarium bone cells resulted in a 21% increase in DNA production, a 50–60% increase in incorporation of [¹⁴C]proline into collagenous and noncollagenous proteins, and a 200% increase in alkaline phosphatase activity; under identical conditions, [³⁵S]sulfate incorporation into proteoglycans (glycosaminoglycans) was not affected. These results suggest that ascorbate may be important in maintaining or stimulating the osteogenic phenotype of normal bone cells.