Abstract: The aim of the study was to evaluate the biological effects of epidermal growth factor(EGF)on the proliferation and alkaline phosphatase(ALP)activity in cultured human periodontal ligament cells(PDLCs). Thiazoly blue(MTT)colorimetric assay and ALP activity analysis were used at different time points(24,48 and 72 h)to determine the proliferation and ALP activity of PDLCs after different doses of EGF were added into the culture medium. During 24～72 h, when compared with control group, 0.1～5.0μg/L EGF significantly inhibited the proliferation of PDLCs((P<0.01～0.05); 10 μg/L EGF significantly stimulated the proliferation of PDLCs at 48 h(P<0.05)and stabilized the proliferation of PDLCs at 72 h(P>0.05); 0.1～0.5μg/L EGF significantly decreased the ALP activity of PDLCs((P<0.01～0.05); 1～10μg/L EGF significantly increased the ALP activity of PDLCs((P<0.01～0.05)at 24 h and stabilized the ALP activity of PDLCs at 48 h and 72 h(P>0.05). These results suggest that 10 μg/L EGF may simultaneously promote the proliferation and differentiation of human PDLCs during a period of time.

Key words: periodontal ligament cells|epidermal growth factor(EGF)|MTT|alkaline phosphatase