Abstract
Background: Sodium nitroprusside (SNP) releases nitric oxide which has signaling role.
Objectives: This study was conducted to understand the role of low concentration of SNP on viability,
proliferation and biochemical properties of rat bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs).
Materials and Methods: MSCs were used to evaluate the viability and morphology in presence of SNP (1
to 100 µM) at 12, 24 and 36 hours. Then 10, 50 and 100 µM of SNP as well as 24 hours were selected for
further study. Cell proliferation was investigated by colony forming assay and population doubling number
(PDN). Calcium (Ca2+) potassium (K+) and sodium (Na+) level as well as activity of alanine transaminase
(ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) were
measured.
Results: The MSCs viability increased when treatment with 1 and 10 µM at all the treatment periods
while 90 and 100 µM caused significant reduction after 24 and 36 hours. Also 10 µM caused elevation
whereas 50 and 100 µM showed reduction of proliferation ability. We observed morphological changes
and significant reduction of all the investigated enzymes with 100 µM. Activity of ALT and AST were
elevated with 10 µM after 24 hours, whereas LDH and ALP activities were not changed. Na+, K+ and Ca2+
was not changed due to 10 and 50 µM treatments, whereas 100 µM only elevated the level of calcium
and sodium ions.
Conclusions: Low concentration of SNP caused increase of viability and proliferation due to metabolic
activity elevation. But the high concentration of SNP induced cell viability and proliferation reduction
caused by metabolic and ionic imbalance as well as infrastructure alteration.