One of the main target organs for the lanthanides(Ln) is bone. Previous studies revealed that ytterbium(Yb) produced damage to the skeletal system in vivo. But the effects of Yb3+ on bone marrow stromal cells(BMSCs) in vitro had not been reported. In this paper, cell viability, apoptosis, mitochondrial membrane potential(MMP), reactive oxygen species(ROS) and lactate dehydrogenase(LDH) were measured in order to study the effects of Yb3+ on BMSCs. The results indicated that Yb3+ displayed a slight positive effect on the BMSCs viability at concentrations of 1×10–6, 1×10–5, and 1×10–4 mol/L, but turned to decrease the viability of BMSCs at the highest concentration of 1×10–3 mol/L for 24, 48 and 72 h. Yb3+ at 1×10–3 mol/L promoted apoptosis of BMSCs, increased the levels of ROS and LDH, and decreased MMP in BMSCs. It suggested that the precipitate of Yb PO4 might decrease the viability of BMSCs. Yb3+ induced the apoptosis of BMSCs via mitochondrial pathway. The results might be useful for more rational application of Yb-based compounds in the future.
