Fig. 3

Effects of the presence of Mo ions in culture medium on the osteogenic differentiation potential of BMMSCs. Culture medium containing Mo ions (Mo) and diluted solutions (dilution ratio: 1/32) of BG-extracts containing Mo ions (BG + Mo) were set as the experimental groups, while culture medium (Control), diluted (dilution ratio: 1/32) BG-extract solution, and diluted (dilution ratio: 1/32) Mo-extract solution were set as the controls. a Representative images of mineralized nodules formed by BMMSCs following a 7-day osteogenic incubation in different solutions (Alizarin Red S staining; scale bar = 100 μm). b Quantitative analysis of mineralized nodules formed by BMMSCs following a 7-day osteogenic incubation in different solutions (n = 4). c Representative alkaline phosphatase (ALP) staining images following a 7-day osteogenic incubation of BMMSCs in different solutions. Scale bar = 100 μm. d Quantitative analysis of ALP activity following a 7-day osteogenic incubation of BMMSCs in different solutions (n = 4). e Expression of osteogenic proteins (Runx-2 and BSP-1) in BMMSCs following a 7-day osteogenic incubation in different solutions (Western blotting). f Quantitative analysis of osteogenesis-related proteins in cells following a 7-day osteogenic incubation in different solutions (n = 3). g Relative mRNA expression levels (normalized to β-actin) of osteogenesis-related genes (SP7, Runx2, and ALP) in BMMSCs following a 7-day osteogenic incubation in different solutions (qRT–PCR assay, n = 3). The data are shown as the mean ± SD; *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01, and **P < 0.01 indicate significant differences between the indicated columns