Figure 4

Dex addition in standard osteogenic medium potentiates osteoblast differentiation. Osteoblast differentiation was tested on BMSCs cultured for 14 days in growth medium (G 0), in adipogenic medium containing Dex 500 nM (A 500), or cultured in osteogenic medium (O 0) or osteogenic medium supplemented with 75 to 150 nM of Dex (O 75 to O 150). (A) Mineralized nodules were highlighted by alizarin red staining. Representative images from four independent experiments are presented here. (B) Mineralization was quantified by measuring the calcium to protein ratio and compared to osteogenic medium results. Representative data from four independent experiments are shown as means +/− S.E.M. (C) Relative levels of mRNA osteoblast markers (Runx2, OSX (osterix), ALP (alkaline phosphatase), OC (osteocalcin)) were determined. Results were reported to expression of the mean of Gapdh2 and 18S and expressed in percent of cells cultured in growth medium. Representative data from four independent experiments depicted as means +/− S.E.M. are shown. ^# p < 0.05 vs. O 0 medium.