Figure 1.

Phytoestrogens enhance osteogenesis of MSC. MSCs from three donors were plated and allowed to grow to 70% confluence before being induced to differentiate and being simultaneously exposed to estrogen (10 nM), daidzein (1 μM), and genistein (1 μM). MSCs induced to undergo osteogenesis for 14 days were stained with Alizarin Red S to detect calcium deposits, destained with cetylpyridinium chloride, and measured at 590 nm to quantify the amount of osteogenic differentiation. (A) Representative images of Alizarin Red-stained MSCs treated with vehicle, estrogen, daidzein, or genistein. Images were acquired at 4× magnification. (B) Bone differentiation was determined relative to vehicle-treated cells normalized to 1.0. *, P < 0.05; **, P < 0.01.