Abstract:

Objective To compare the effects of calcium silicate (C3S), β-tricalcium phosphate (β-TCP) and Dycal on the proliferation of dental pulp cells (DPCs). Methods DPCs were obtained using modified tissue explant technique in vitro. DPCs of the third passage were cultured with material extract fluids containing different mass concentrations of C3S, β-TCP and Dycal for 3 d (different mass concentrations of C3S, β-TCP and Dycal groups), and proliferation-related parameter of optical density [D (490 nm)] was measured by MTT assay. DPCs without culture with material extract fluids were served as negative control group. DPCs of the third passage were cultured with material extract fluids containing 6.25 mg/mL C3S, β-TCP and Dycal respectively (C3S, β-TCP and Dycal groups), those cultured with routine culture fluid were served as control group, and the changes of cell cycles were detected by flow cytometry in each group. Results MTT assay revealed that 3 d after culture, D (490 nm) in different mass concentrations of C3S groups was significantly higher than that in negative control group (P<0.05), D (490 nm) in 0.625 mg/mL group and 6.25 mg/mL group reached the peak, there was no significant difference in D (490 nm) between negative control group and different mass concentrations of C3S groups （P>0.05）, and D (490 nm) in 50 mg/mL Dycal group and 100 mg/mL Dycal group was significantly lower than that in control group (P<0.05). Flow cytometry demonstrated that 3 d and 6 d after culture, the percents of cells in S+G2 stage in C3S group were significantly higher than those in control group, β-TCP group and Dycal group (P<0.05). Conclusion C3S can promote the proliferation of DPCs. β-TCP does not have significant effect on the proliferation of DPCs, while Dycal inhibits the proliferation of DPCs.

Key words: calcium silicate, β-tricalcium phosphate, Dycal, dental pulp cell, proliferation, cell cycle