[The effect of fluid shear stress on the NO synthesis of rat osteoblast-like cells].

This study sought to elucidate the function of NO during the signal transduction wherein fluid shear stress regulates the proliferation and differentiation of osteoblast cells. The isolated rat osteoblast-like cells were exposed to fluid shear stress 12 dyn/cm2 for 5, 10, 15, 30, 60 and 120 min respectively with the use of a flow chamber. The NO release was examined. After the exposure to fluid shear stress, the NO synthesis of rat primary osteoblast-like cells increased significantly (P<0.05) when compared with the control. After 60 minutes of exposure, the release of NO began to increase significantly (P<0.05), but no significant increase as such was seen in the control (P>0.05). NO synthesis may be one of the signal transduction pathways which transduce the fluid shear stress into osteoblast cells. In early stage, it may be induced by cNOS and in late stage by iNOS.