一氧化氮在吲哚昔酚抑制血管平滑肌细胞增殖中的作用

目的：观察吲哚昔酚（ldoxifene,ldo）对大鼠血管平滑肌细胞增殖的影响,并探讨平滑肌源性一氧化氮（NO）在其中的作用。方法：血管平滑肌细胞培养、NO释放的测定、细胞计数和MTT测定。结果：吲哚昔酚可剂量依赖性的促使血管平滑肌细胞NO的释放,10μmol／L吲哚昔酚明显抑制10％胎牛血清（FCS）和10^-7mol／L的ET-1诱导的细胞增殖,吲哚昔酚的抑制作用可被一氧化氮合酶抑制剂L-NAME（100μmol／L）和鸟苷酸环化酶（guanylate cyclase,GC）抑制剂美蓝（methylene blue,MB）（10μmol／L）明显减轻。结论：吲哚昔酚抑制血管平滑肌细胞增殖的作用与其NO释放密切相关,其中可能有NO-GC-cGMP通路的参与。     

培养的血管平滑肌细胞ERα和ERβ的表达与细胞表型转变及增殖时相有关

目的探讨雌激素对血管平滑肌细胞（VSMC）增殖的双重效应机制。方法采用Westernblot、电镜形态定量及细胞计数的方法,动态检测原代培养大鼠VSMC在有或无10^-8mol/L17β-雌二醇（E2）存在下,雌激素受体（ER）α和β表达变化与细胞表型转变及增殖时相的关系。结果无E2存在时,VSMC在从收缩型向合成型转变（原代培养第0到5天）及活跃增殖（第5到12天）过程中,ERβ表达无明显变化,但ERα表达明显上升,导致ERα/ERβ比值升高。这种变化并不随VSMC表型的恢复及增殖停止而逆转。有E2存在时,ERα/ERβ比值在第5天时低于对照组,而第9天后各时点均高于对照组;这种影响与E2对不同状态VSMC的不同作用基本对应,即延长原代收缩型SMC的增殖潜伏期,但促进已发生表型转变的VSMC增殖。结论雌激素对不同表型VSMC的双重效应与表型转变前后ERα/ERβ比值变化有关。     

β-肾上腺素能受体在NO抑制小鼠回肠自主收缩中的作用

目的：观察一氧化氮（nitric oxide,NO）供体左旋精氨酸（L-argnine,L—Arg）对小鼠回肠自主收缩幅度的影响,探讨肛肾上腺素能受体在NO抑制小鼠回肠自主收缩中的作用。方法：应用张力换能器记录标本自主收缩的方法,以回肠肌条自主收缩幅度变化为指标,观察一氧化氮合酶（nitric oxide synthase,NOS）抑制剂L-NNA,可溶性鸟苷酸环化酶（soluble guanylyl cyclase,sGC）抑制剂ODQ（1H-[1,2,4]oxadiazolo[4,3-aJquinoxalin-1-one）,β-肾上腺素能受体激动荆异丙肾上腺素（Isoprenaline,ISO）和拮抗剂普萘洛尔（Propranolol）对NO作用的影响。结果：①L—Arg抑制小鼠回肠自主收缩幅度,呈浓度依赖性。②L-NNA（3×10^-4mol／L）,ODQ（3×10^-4mol／L）均减弱L-Arg的抑制效应。③Propranolol（3×10^-6mol／L）明显减弱L—Arg的抑制效应。④ISCO（1×100mol／L）明显增强L—Arg的抑制效应。而Propranolol（3×10^-6mol／L）和ISCO（1×10^-7mol／L）孵育组,L—Arg的抑制作用无明显变化。结论：L-Arg经NOS催化生成NO后经cGMP途径发挥对小鼠回肠自主收缩的抑制作用,良受体途径也部分参与了NO的作用过程。     

白细胞介素—10对血管一氧化氮／一氧化氮合酶系统的影响

为探讨抗炎因子－－白细胞介素－10（IL－10）对大鼠主动脉一氧化氮（NO）／一氧化氮合酶（NOS）系统的影响,应用Griess试剂、^3H－瓜氨酸生成及蛋白免疫印迹杂交等方法,测定IL－10孵育对血管NO释放、NOS活性及表达的影响。结果发现细菌脂多糖（LPS）呈浓度领带性地激活诱导型NOS（iNOS）,促进NO生成。IL－10（10^-10-10^-8g/ml）呈浓度依赖性地上调内皮型NOS（eNOS）蛋白表达及其活性,但对iNOS活性及表达无明显影响,IL－10（10^-9-10^-8g/ml）显著抑制10μg/ml LPS诱导的NO生成和iNOS激活;而高浓度IL－10（10^-7g/ml）则上调iNOS的活性,对eNOS蛋白的表达知活性无明显影响。因此IL－10对NO／NOS系统具有双重影响,一方面可抑制炎症介质诱发的作为炎性物质的iNOS的表达及激活,另一方面可上调内皮源扩血管物质NO的释放。     

诱导型一氧化氮合酶在17β-雌二醇诱导的血管平滑肌细胞周期阻滞中的作用

利用大鼠血管平滑肌细胞(vascular smooth muscle cells,VSMC)作为模型,观察17β-雌二醇(17β-estradiol,E2)对VSMC诱导型一氧化氮合酶(inducible nitric oxide synthase,iNOS)活性和蛋白表达的影响,并探讨其在内皮素-1(endothlin 1,ET-1)刺激的VSMC周期循环中的作用。检测指标包括同位素法测定iNOS的活性,免疫印迹法(western blot)检测iNOS蛋白表达,流式细胞仪检测细胞周期,观察一氧化氮合酶(nitric oxide synthase,NOS)抑制剂N^G-硝基左旋精氨酸甲酯(N^G-nitro—L—arginine methylester,L—NAME)对E2抑制VSMC细胞周期的影响。结果显示,E2明显增加iNOS的活性和蛋白表达,在30min和12h时能诱导VSMC的iNOS活性明显增加,而60min和24h时VSMC的iNOS活性与对照组无显著差异,不呈明显浓度依赖性,雌激素受体(estrogen receptor,ER)拮抗剂Tamoxifen和L—NAME能明显抑制E2诱导的VSMC iNOS活性增加;E2增加VSMC的iNOS蛋白表达的作用在3h时起效,12h达高峰,以后逐渐下降,呈浓度依赖性,Tamoxifen能明显抑制马诱导的VSMC iNOS蛋白表达;E2明显抑制ET-1诱导的S期细胞百分比和G2 S／G1增加,使VSMC在G1期发生细胞周期阻滞,这些作用可被预先给予L—NAME所明显减轻。上述结果提示,E2使ET—l刺激的VSMC细胞周期循环在G1期发生阻滞与增加VSMC iNOS活性有关,该作用至少部分通过ER介导。     

NO在CCK—8减轻肿瘤坏死因子诱导兔肺动脉反应性变化中的作用

为探讨八肽胆囊收缩素（CCK－8）缓解内毒素休克时肺动脉高压的作用机制,应用离体血管环张力测定技术及一氧化氮合酶（NOS）检测方法,观察了一氧化氮（NO）在CCK－8减轻肿瘤坏死因子－α（tumor necrosis factor-al-pha,TNF-α）的抑制肺动脉内皮依赖性舒张反应中的作用。结果显示：TNF－α（4000U／ml）孵育2h时,肺动脉对10^-6mol/L苯肾上腺素(phenylephrine,PE）和10^-6mol/L乙酰胆碱（ACh）的收缩反应及内皮依赖性舒张反应均无明显变化。TNF－α孵育7或14h时,肺动脉对10^-6mol/L ACh介导的内皮依赖性舒张反应降低,CCK－8（0.5μg/ml）可逆转TNF－α的上述作用,CCK－8本身对正常肺动脉反应性无明显影响。TNF－α、CCK－8对PE引起的收缩反应无显著影响。L－精氨酸（L－Arg）可使TNF－α7h内皮依赖性舒张作用恢复。氨基胍（AG）不影响各组肺动脉对10^-6mol/L ACh的内皮依赖性舒张反应,而使TNF－α组肺动脉环对10^-6mol/L PE的收缩反应显著增加。L－硝基精氨酸（L－NNA）使各组肺动脉环对10^-6mol/L ACh反应由舒张变为收缩,对10^-6mol/L PE的收缩反应显著增强。检测7h各组NOS活性,TNF－α组、TNF－α＋CCK－8组均较对照组显著增加,CCK－8组与对照组比较无显著差异。上述结果提示,CCK－8可逆转TNF－α对内皮依赖性舒张反应的抑制作用,此作用可能与NO有关。     

逆转录病毒介导诱导型一氧化氮合酶基因转染抑制血管平滑肌细胞增殖的研究

目的：研究逆转录病毒介导诱导型一氧化氮合酶（iNOS）基因转染对体外培养的大鼠主动脉血管平滑肌细胞（VSMC）增殖的影响,探讨iNOS转基因治疗血管移植术后再狭窄的可行性。方法：将不同滴度的病毒上清转染体外培养的VSMC;采用RT-PCR、Western-blot检测VSMC内iNOSmRNA和iNOS蛋白的表达;用Griess法检测iNOS转基因细胞的培养液中一氧化氮（NO）的含量;用改良MTT、法检测iNOS转基因对VSMC增殖的抑制作用。结果：不同滴度的PLXSNiNOS转染体外培养的VSMC48h后,在VSMC内可检测到外源性iNOSmRNA和iNOS蛋白,表达水平随病毒滴度的增加而增强,呈现剂量依赖性;而用最高滴度的PIXSN转染体外培养的VSMC48h后,在VSMC内未能检测到外源性iNOSmRNA和iNOS蛋白表达;iNOS转基因细胞的培养液中NO含量显著增高,同时VSMC增殖受到明显抑制,均呈现剂量依赖性。结论：逆转录病毒介导iNOS基因可高效转染体外培养的VSMC,并在细胞内表达活性的iNOS蛋白,而且产生大量的NO,明显抑制VSMC增殖。为iNOS转基因治疗血管移植术后再狭窄的临床应用提供有力的实验依据。     

奥帕曲拉对内皮素-1诱导的心脏成纤维细胞增殖的影响

目的：探讨奥帕曲拉（omapatrilat,OMA）对内皮素-1（ET-1）诱导的心脏成纤维细胞（CFs）增殖的干预作用及可能机制．方法：经差速贴壁法培养的新生大鼠CFs,随机分为7组：对照组,ET-1组,OMA组,ET-1＋OMA10^-9mol／L组,ET-1＋OMA10^-8mol／L,ET-1＋OMA10^-7mol／L组．ET-1＋OMA10^-6mol／L组.采用四氮唑盐（MTT）比色法测定CFs数目,流式细胞分析仪（FCM）检测CFs细胞周期,液体闪烁计数仪测定CFs^3H-脯氨酸掺入率,硝酸还原酶法测定细胞培养上清液中NO含量：结果：与对照组相比,10^-7mol／LET-1能显著增加CFs的吸光度A190值及[^3H]-Pro掺入率,降低CFs生成NO的量（均P〈0．01）,10^-9-10^-6mol／L OMA呈浓度依赖性的降低ET-1诱导的A190值和[^3H]—Pro掺入率升高（均P〈0．01）,促进CFsNO的生成（均P〈0．05）;细胞周期分析表明ET—1能显著提高S期细胞百分率（P〈0．01）,10^-7mol／LOMA抑制ET-1诱导S期细胞百分率上升（P〈0．01）.结论：OMA对ET-1诱导的CFs增殖及胶原合成有抑制作用,该作用可能和NO生成有关.     

大鼠心肌线粒体L-Arg/ NO系统对线粒体Ca2+转运功能的影响

目的和方法采用大鼠心肌线粒体体外孵育的方法,观察线粒体L-精氨酸/一氧化氮系统对线粒体Ca2+转运功能的影响.结果NO生成的底物L-Arg (10-4 mol/L)、外源性NO供体硝普纳(5×10-7 mol/L)孵育的线粒体NO-2的生成量分别高于对照组66%、89% (P<0.01);钙含量较对照组分别低40%、54% (P<0.01); 线粒体Ca2+的摄入量较对照组分别减少67%、85%(P<0.01), 线粒体Ca2+释放率(11%、8%)降低与对照组(14%)相比差异显著(P<0.05、P<0.01).NO合酶抑制剂左旋硝基精氨酸甲酯(L-NAME, 10-4 mol/L)与相同浓度的L-Arg共同孵育的线粒体,明显抑制了L-Arg对线粒体的效应,与单纯L-Arg组比较,NO2生成减少,线粒体钙含量和反映线粒体45 Ca2+的摄入与释放能力都接近对照组水平.结论心肌线粒体L-精氨酸/一氧化氮系统参与了线粒体对心肌细胞Ca2+浓度的调节,其生理和病理生理意义值得进一步探讨.     

尾加压素对新生大鼠心肌细胞一氧化氮合成的影响

应用半定量逆转录－多聚酶链反应法,观察尾加压素（urotensin Ⅱ,UⅡ）对培养的新生SD大鼠心肌细胞内皮型一氧化氮合酶（endothelial nitric oxide synthase,eNOS)mRNA表达的影响,并测定UⅡ对心肌细胞内一氧化氮合酶（nitric oxide synthase,NOS)活性和一氧化氮（nitric oxide,NO)释放的影响。结果显示：UⅡ抑制培养的新生大鼠心肌细胞eNOS mRNA表达、抑制NOS的活性及NO释放;0.1μmol/L浓度的UⅡ呈时间依赖性抑制心肌细胞NOS的活性及NO生成。上述实验结果提示UⅡ的心血管作用可能与NO合成系统有关。     

17β-雌二醇诱导血管内皮细胞一氧化氮释放及其与细胞内钙的关系

利用小牛胸主动脉内皮细胞（ＢＡＥＣｓ）作为模型,观察１７β－雌二醇（Ｅ２）ＢＡＥＣｓ一氧化氮（ＮＯ）释放、一氧化氮合酶（ｅＮＯＳ）ｍＲＮＡ表达和细胞内钙（〔Ｃａ＾２＋〕ｉ）的影响,以及雌激素受体（ＥＲ）拮抗剂ｔａｍｏｘｉｆｅｎ和ＮＯＳ抑制剂（Ｌ－ＮＡＭＥ）的作用。结果显示,Ｅ２（１０＾－１２￣１０＾－８ｍｏｌ／Ｌ）呈尝试依赖性促进ＢＡＥＣｓ中ＮＯ的释放,以１０＾－８ｍｏｌ／Ｌ浓度Ｅ２处理ＢＡＥＣｓ     

普伐他汀对醛固酮诱导心脏成纤维细胞内皮素合成的影响

目的:探讨普伐他汀对醛固酮诱导新生大鼠心脏成纤维细胞内皮素(ET)的影响。方法:采用胰酶消化法和差速贴壁分离法获取和培养新生大鼠心脏成纤维细胞,应用放免法、流式细胞术、RT-PCR的方法分别测定醛固酮、普伐他汀以及甲羟戊酸干预下心脏成纤维细胞培养液中ET水平和心脏成纤维细胞中的ET-1含量,以及内皮素-1前体(ppET-1)mRNA的表达。结果:与正常对照组相比,醛固酮(10-7mol/L)可促进心脏成纤维细胞培养液中ET水平和心脏成纤维细胞中的ET-1含量及ppET-1 mRNA的表达,提前给予普伐他汀(10-5,10-4,10-3mol/L)能剂量依赖性地抑制醛固酮的上述作用,同时这种抑制作用可被甲羟戊酸所逆转。结论:普伐他汀可抑制醛固酮诱导的心脏成纤维细胞ppET-1mRNA表达以及ET-1的合成和分泌,其机制可能与甲羟戊酸代谢途径有关。     

Human recombinant erythropoietin alters the flow-dependent vasodilatation of in vitro perfused rat mesenteric arteries with unbalanced endothelial endothelin-1 / nitric oxide ratio

Chronic use of human recombinant erythropoietin (r-HuEPO) is accompanied by serious vascular side effects related to the rise in blood viscosity and shear stress. We investigated the direct effects of r-HuEPO on endothelium and nitric oxide (NO)-dependent vasodilatation induced by shear stress of cannulated and pressurized rat mesenteric resistance arteries. Intravascular flow was increased in the presence or absence of the NO synthase inhibitor N(G)-nitro-l-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME; 10(-4) mol/L). In the presence of r-HuEPO, the flow-dependent vasodilatation was attenuated, while L-NAME completely inhibited it. The association of r-HuEPO and L-NAME caused a vasoconstriction in response to the rise in intravascular flow. Bosentan (10(-5) mol/L), an inhibitor of endothelin-1 (ET-1) receptors, corrected the attenuated vasodilatation observed with r-HuEPO and inhibited the vasoconstriction induced by flow in the presence of r-HuEPO and L-NAME. r-HuEPO and L-NAME exacerbated ET-1 vasoconstriction. At shear stress values of 2 and 14 dyn/cm(2) (1 dyn = 10(-5) N), cultured EA.hy926 endothelial cells incubated with r-HuEPO, L-NAME, or both released greater ET-1 than untreated cells. In conclusion, r-HuEPO diminishes flow-induced vasodilatation. This inhibitory effect seems to implicate ET-1 release. NO withdrawal exacerbates the vascular effects of ET-1 in the presence of r-HuEPO. These findings support the importance of a balanced endothelial ET-1:NO ratio to avoid the vasopressor effects of r-HuEPO.     

一氧化氮抑制内皮素促血管平滑肌细胞增殖作用的信号转导途径

培养的家兔胸主动脉血管平滑肌细胞（ＶＳＭＣ）分别以内皮素（ＥＴ－１）、一氧化氮（ＮＯ）前体Ｌ－Ａｒｇ和ＮＯ供体ＳＩＮ－１刺激,或用ＥＴ－１＋Ｌ－Ａｒｇ、ＥＴ－１＋ＳＩＮ－１联合刺激,测ＶＳＭＣ＾３Ｈ－ＴｄＲ掺入、丝裂素活化蛋白激酶（ＭＡＰＫ）活性及蛋白激酶Ｃ（ＰＫＣ）活性的改变,以研究ＮＯ抑制ＥＴ－１促ＶＳＭＣ增殖作用的信号转导途径。结果表明：（１）ＥＴ－１ １０＾－８ｍｏｌ／Ｌ单独刺激,＾３Ｈ－     

Nonpeptidic antagonists of ETA and ETB receptors reverse the ET-1-induced sustained increase of cytosolic and nuclear calcium in human aortic vascular smooth muscle cells

Our previous work showed that ET-1 induced a concentration-dependent increase of cytosolic Ca2+ ([Ca]c) and nuclear Ca2+ ([Ca]n) in human aortic vascular smooth muscle cells (hVSMCs). In the present study, using hVSMCs and 3-dimensional confocal microscopy coupled to the Ca2+ fluorescent probe Fluo-3, we showed that peptidic antagonists of ETA and ETB receptors (BQ-123 (10(-6) mol/L) and BQ-788 (10(-7) mol/L), respectively) prevented, but did not reverse, ET-1-induced sustained increase of [Ca]c and [Ca]n. In contrast, nonpeptidic antagonists of ETA and ETB (respectively, BMS-182874 (10(-8)-10(-6) mol/L) and A-192621 (10(-7) mol/L)) both prevented and reversed ET-1-induced sustained increase of [Ca]c and [Ca]n. Furthermore, activation of the ETB receptor alone using the specific agonist IRL-1620 (10(-9) mol/L) induced sustained increases of [Ca]c and [Ca]n, and subsequent administration of ET-1 (10(-7) mol/L) further increased nuclear Ca2+. ET-1-induced increase of [Ca]c and [Ca]n was completely blocked by extracellular application of the Ca2+ chelator EGTA. Pretreatment with the G protein inhibitors pertussis toxin (PTX) and cholera toxin (CTX) also prevented the ET-1 response; however, strong membrane depolarization with KCl (30 mmol/L) subsequently induced sustained increase of [Ca]c and [Ca]n. Pretreatment of hVSMCs with either the PKC activator phorbol-12,13-dibutyrate or the PKC inhibitor bisindolylmaleimide did not affect ET-1-induced sustained increase of intracellular Ca2+. These results suggest that both ETA- and ETB-receptor activation contribute to ET-1-induced sustained increase of [Ca]c and [Ca]n in hVSMCs. Moreover, in contrast to the peptidic antagonists of ET-1 receptors, the nonpeptidic ETA-receptor antagonist BMS-182874 and the nonpeptidic ETB-receptor antagonist A-192621 were able to reverse the effect of ET-1. Nonpeptidic ETA- and ETB-receptor antagonists may therefore be better pharmacological tools for blocking ET-1-induced sustained increase of intracellular Ca2+ in hVSMCs. Our results also suggest that the ET-1-induced sustained increase of [Ca]c and [Ca]n is not mediated via activation of PKC, but via a PTX- and CTX-sensitive G protein calcium influx through the R-type Ca2+ channel.     

Nω-硝基-L-精氨酸甲酯抑制吗啡镇痛耐受大鼠中脑和脊髓一氧化氮合酶/N-甲基-D-天冬氨酸受体表达上调

采用热甩尾测痛法观察全身应用非特异性一氧化氮合酶（nitric oxide synthase,NOS）抑制剂——N^ω-硝基-L-精氨酸甲酯（L-NAME）对吗啡镇痛耐受形成的影响,并通过观察脊髓和中脑神经元型NOS（nNOS）和N-甲基-D-天冬氨酸（NMDA）受体亚单位表达的变化来阐释NO／NMDA受体在吗啡镇痛耐受形成中的作用。将36只健康成年Sprague-Dawley大鼠平均分为6组（每组6只）：1组为对照组,皮下注射生理盐水1ml;2、3、4、5和6组为处理组,分别皮下注射L-NAME10mg／kg、L-NAME20mg／kg、吗啡10mg／kg、L-NAME10mg／kg＋吗啡10mg／kg、L-NAME20mg／kg＋吗啡10mg／kg,每天2次。在注射前测量大鼠的热甩尾潜伏期（tail-flick latency,TFL）基础值,随后每天第一次给药50min后测量其TFL。第8天最后一次给药80min后（除2组和5组之外）断头取脊髓和中脑,采用RT-PCR技术测量nNOS以及NMDA受体1A（NR1A）和2A（NR2A）亚单位的表达。结果显示,2组大鼠第1天至第7天的TFL与基础值相比无显著差异;3组第7天时的TFL仍显著高于基础值;4组的TFL在第1天时最高,第2至第6天期间逐渐降低,第6天时与基础值相比无显著差异：5组的TFL在实验过程中呈下降趋势,虽然第7天时较第1天有所降低,但是仍然显著高于基础值;6组的TFL变化趋势与5组相同。PT—PCR分析结果显示,与1组相比,3组脊髓和中脑的nNOS mRNA表达显著降低,但NR1A mRNA和NR2A mRNA表达无显著改变;4组的nNOS mRNA、NR1A mRNA和NR2A mRNA表达均显著高于1组。与4组相比,6组的nNOS mRNA、NR1A mRNA和NR2A mRNA表达均显著降低。结果提示,吗啡镇痛耐受大鼠脊髓和中脑的nNOS和NMDA受体表达增加,联合应用L—NAME可抑制长期应用吗啡所致的nNOS表达增加和NMDA受体上调,延缓吗啡镇痛耐受的形成。本研究结果提示,脊髓和中脑的NO／NMDA受体与吗啡镇痛耐受形成密切相关。     

Genistein stimulates the osteoblastic differentiation via NO/cGMP in bone marrow culture

The soybean phytoestrogen, genistein (Gen), has anabolic effects on bone through mechanisms that remain to be elucidated. We examined the role of nitric oxide (NO) and its downstream effector guanylyl cyclase (GC) in mediating the effects of Gen on the proliferation and osteoblastic maturation of primary mouse bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs). Gen (10(-8) approximately 10(-6) M) resulted in a dose-dependent increase in cell proliferation as measured by increased [3H]thymidine incorporation, and stimulated osteoblastic maturation as assessed by culture duration-dependent increments in alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity, calcium deposition into extracellular matrix and Runx2/Cbfa1 gene expression in BMSCs cultures. Gen also resulted in a dose-dependent increase in NO synthase (NOS) activity, NO formation, and cGMP production in BMSCs cultures. The effects of Gen were mimicked by 17beta-estradiol (E2, 10(-8) M). Concurrent treatment with the estrogen receptor (ER) antagonist ICI182,780 (10(-7) M) or the NOS inhibitor L-NAME (3 x 10(-3) M) diminished the Gen (10(-6) M)-mediated increase in NOS activity, NO production, and cGMP content. In contrast, a soluble GC inhibitor 1H-[1,2,4]oxadiazolo [4,3,-a]quinoxalin-1-one (ODQ, 10(-6) M) selectively blocked the Gen (10(-6) M)-mediated increase in cGMP content but not in NO production and NOS activity. Moreover, inhibition of ER, NOS activity or cGMP blocked Gen-induced proliferation and osteoblastic differentiation of BMSCs and Runx2/Cbfa1 gene expression in culture. Gen has estrogen-like activity and stimulates the proliferation and osteoblastic differentiation of mouse BMSCs at least in part through NO/cGMP pathway.