Effects of AISI 316L corrosion products in in vitro bone formation

Rat bone marrow cells were cultured in experimental conditions that favour the proliferation and differentiation of osteoblastic cells (i.e., 2.52 x 10(-4) mol l(-1) ascorbic acid, 10(-2) mol l(-1) beta-glycerophosphate and 10(-8) mol l(-1) dexamethasone) in the absence and in the presence of stainless-steel corrosion products, for a period of 18 days. An AISI 316L stainless-steel slurry (SS) was obtained by electrochemical means and the concentrations of the major metal ions, determined by atomic absorption spectrometry, were 8.78 x 10(-3) mol l(-1) of Fe, 4.31 x 10(-3) mol l(-1) of Cr and 2.56 x 10(-3) mol l(-1) of Ni. Bone marrow cells were exposed to 0.01, 0.1 and 1% of the SS and at the end of the incubation period, control and treated cultures were evaluated by histochemical assays for the identification of the presence of alkaline phosphatase and also calcium and phosphate deposition. Cultures were further observed by scanning electron microscopy. Levels of total and ionised calcium and phosphorus in the culture media collected from control and metal exposed cell cultures were also quantified. Histochemical staining showed that control cultures presented a strong reaction for the presence of alkaline phosphatase and exhibited formation of calcium and phosphates deposits. The presence of 0.01% SS caused no detectable biological effects in these cultures, 0.1% SS impaired osteoblastic behaviour and, 1% SS resulted in cell death. In the absence of bone cells, levels of total and ionised calcium and phosphorus in the control and metal added culture medium were similar throughout the incubation period. A significant decrease in the levels of ionised calcium and phosphorus were observed in the culture medium of control cultures and also in cultures exposed to 0.01% SS after two weeks of incubation, an event related with the formation of mineral calcium phosphate deposits in these cultures. In cultures grown in the presence of 0.1 and 1% SS corrosion products, levels of calcium and phosphorus were similar to those observed in the absence of cells. Results showed that stainless-steel corrosion products above certain concentrations may disturb the normal behaviour of osteoblast-like rat bone marrow cell cultures.