Among several bioactive substances known as coupling factors, transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta), interleukin-1 (IL-1), and prostaglandin (PG) E1 and E2 increased not only the activity of alkaline phosphatase but also the rate of incorporation of 45Ca2+ into ROS 17/2.8 during a 3-day culture: the former two factors are known to be formed at the site where bone is resorbed, while PG's are known as one of the factors involved in bone resorption. Parathyroid hormone, another hormone that affects bone metabolism, elevated the incorporation of 45Ca2+ by and decreased the alkaline phosphatase activity of the cells. The facts indicate the possibility that the osteoblastic cells are involved in the transport of calcium ions when bones are being resorbed. On the other hand, when these osteosarcoma cells were cultured in DMEM containing ascorbate and beta-glycerophosphate, followed by staining with silver nitrate by the procedure of von Kossa, there appeared many groups of cells that were positively stained as dark brown spots. Cells were then cultured under the same conditions in the presence of radioactive calcium, and the radioactivity accumulated was measured. The result showed that the presence of both ascorbate and beta-glycerophosphate in the culture medium dramatically increased the accumulation of 45Ca2+. It appears from these facts that ROS 17/2.8 cells are capable of incorporating and/or accumulating calcium ion if they are cultured under appropriate conditions. These cells will probably be able to produce a calcified matrix in vitro.