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. 2018 Dec;16(6):4722-4728.
doi: 10.3892/etm.2018.6772. Epub 2018 Sep 19.

Effects of androgen and progestin on the proliferation and differentiation of osteoblasts

Xinchen Wu  1 , Mengqi Zhang  2
Affiliations

Effects of androgen and progestin on the proliferation and differentiation of osteoblasts

Xinchen Wu et al. Exp Ther Med. 2018 Dec.

Abstract

Osteoporosis is liable to affect patients with gonadal hormone deficiency, and a supplement of androgens may be used to increase bone density of patients with osteoporosis. Since the androgens currently used may cause severe side effects, it is useful to investigate the effect of other androgens and progestin on bone improvement. The aim of the current study was to investigate the effects of pregnenolone (Preg), androstenedione (AD), etiocholanolone (Etio), androsterone (An), nandrolone (NA) and testosterone (T) on the proliferation and differentiation of osteoblasts for potential clinical applications. Human osteoblasts were cultured and treated with androgens and progestin, including Preg, AD, Etio, An, NA, and T, at concentrations of 0, 10-10, 10-8, 10-6 and 10-5 mol/l. The levels of cell proliferation, alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity and osteocalcin content were measured and assessed. Preg, AD, Etio, An, and T at concentrations of 10-10 and/or 10-8 mol/l significantly improved osteoblast proliferation. NA at concentrations of 10-10, 10-8, 10-6 and 10-5 mol/l also significantly improved osteoblast proliferation. Preg, AD, Etio, An, NA, and T significantly increased ALP activity and osteocalcin content. The present study demonstrated, for the first time, that Preg, AD, Etio, An, and NA could improve the proliferation and differentiation of osteoblasts in vitro.

Keywords: androgen; androstenedione; androsterone; etiocholanolone; nandrolone; osteoblasts; pregnenolone; testosterone.

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Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Chemical structures of androgens and progestin. (A) Androstenedione; (B) androsterone; (C) etiocholanolone; (D) nandrolone; (E) pregnenolone; and (F) testosterone.
Figure 2.
Figure 2.
Proliferative effect of pregnenolone. *P<0.05 vs. blank control. OD, optical density.
Figure 3.
Figure 3.
Proliferative effect of androstenedione. *P<0.05 vs. blank control. OD, optical density.
Figure 4.
Figure 4.
Proliferative effect of etiocholanolone. *P<0.05 vs. blank control. OD, optical density.
Figure 5.
Figure 5.
Proliferative effect of androsterone. *P<0.05 vs. blank control. OD, optical density.
Figure 6.
Figure 6.
Proliferative effect of nandrolone. *P<0.05 vs. blank control. OD, optical density.
Figure 7.
Figure 7.
Proliferative effect of testosterone. *P<0.05 vs. blank control. OD, optical density.
Figure 8.
Figure 8.
Comparison of the effects on proliferation rate between T and respective steroids (Preg, An, AD, Etio and NA) at concentrations of 10−10 mol/l. T, testosterone; Preg, pregnenolone; An, androsterone; AD, androstendione; Etio, etiocholanone; OD, optical density.
Figure 9.
Figure 9.
Comparison of the effects on proliferation rate between T and respective steroids (Preg, An, AD, Etio and NA) at concentrations of 10−8 mol/l. *P<0.05 vs. T. T, testosterone; Preg, pregnenolone; An, androsterone; AD, androstendione; Etio, etiocholanone; OD, optical density.
Figure 10.
Figure 10.
Effects of drugs (Preg, AD, Etio, An, NA and T) on alkaline phosphatase activity (U/l). *P<0.05 vs. blank control. T, testosterone; Preg, pregnenolone; An, androsterone; AD, androstendione; Etio, etiocholanone; NA, nandrolone.
Figure 11.
Figure 11.
Effects of drugs (Preg, AD, Etio, An, NA and T) on the γ-carboxyglutamic-acid-containing protein content (µg/l). *P<0.05 vs. blank control. T, testosterone; Preg, pregnenolone; An, androsterone; AD, androstendione; Etio, etiocholanone; NA, nandrolone.
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