Previous studies demonstrated that tetracyclines (TCs) inhibited Type I (interstitial) and Type IV collagenases from different mammalian sources, but there are no studies of TCs effect on osteoblast collagenase (C'ase). The present study assessed the effect of TCs on C'ase activity from osteosarcoma cells. Semiconfluent UMR 106-01 cells were treated with minocycline or chemically modified tetracycline (CMT) at 10 micrograms/ml in the presence or absence of bovine parathyroid hormone, b-PTH-(1-34), at 10(-7)M for 24, 48, 72 and 96 hours. Media were collected at each time point and assayed following concentration, destruction of TIMP by reduction/alkylation, activation with p-aminophenylmercuric acetate (APMA), and incubation with 3H-methylated collagen substrate (approximately 100,000 dpm) at 27 degrees C for 18 hours. Collagenase activity from media was also analyzed by SDS-PAGE and fluorography. b-PTH appeared to stimulate C'ase 60-fold compared to controls; minocycline and CMT reduced PTH stimulation approximately 65% and 90%, respectively. Moreover, TCs incubated with partially purified osteoblastic collagenase directly, inhibited its activity in vitro as indicated by a lack of degradation to collagen alpha A chains. Therefore, TCs ability to inhibit bone resorption in organ culture, reported previously, may be due, in part, to reduced osteoblast collagenase activity.