Oxytocin stimulates proliferation of human osteoblast-like cells

Abstract

Oxytocin receptors have recently been demonstrated in human osteoblast-like (hOB) cells. In this study, oxytocin 100–1000 pmol/l increased cell proliferation of primary cultures of hOB cells, measured by [ 3 H ]thymidine incorporation, ( P<0.01). In human osteosarcoma cell-line (SaOS-2), oxytocin 100 pmol/l increased cell proliferation (measured by [ 3 H ]thymidine incorporation and a commercially available kit) and protein synthesis ([ 3 H ]proline incorporation) ( P<0.05). The increase in cell proliferation was abolished when SaOS-2 cells were incubated with an oxytocin antagonist and oxytocin. Oxytocin 100 pmol/l decreased interleukin-6 (IL-6) production of the hOB cells (23.4±1.96 versus 33.4±2.65 pg/well; P<0.001). These findings indicate that oxytocin may affect bone metabolism in humans.