en Original Original <p dir="ltr"><strong>Introduction:</strong> SOX9 is a transcriptional activator which is necessary for chondrogenesis. SOX6 are closely related to DNA-binding proteins that critically enhance its function. Therefore, to carry out the growth plate chondrocyte differentiation program, SOX9 and SOX6 collaborate genomewide. Chondrocyte differentiation is also known to be promoted by glucocorticoids through unknown molecular mechanisms.<br> Methods: We investigated the effects of asynthetic glucocorticoid, dexamethasone (DEX), on SOX9 gene expression in chondrocytes.<br> <strong>Results:</strong> SOX9 mRNA was expressed at high levels in these chondrocytes. Treatment with DEX resulted in enhancement of SOX9 mRNA expression. The DEX effect was dose dependent (0·5 nM and 1 nM).<br> <strong>Conclusion:</strong> RT-PCR analysis revealed that DEX also enhanced the levels of SOX9 expression. It was observed that DEX had enhancing effect only on SOX9 the expression level was low for SOX6. It can thus be concluded that chondrocyte differentiation can be promoted by DEX via SOX9 enhancement.</p> SOX6, SOX9, Bone marrow stromal cells, Differentiation 75 82 http://anatomyjournal.ir/browse.php?a_code=A-10-87-3&slc_lang=en&sid=1 Mohammad Hassan Karimfar 10031947532846001120 10031947532846001120 No Department of Anatomical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Zahedan University of Medical Sciences, Zahedan, Iran. Aliasghar Peyvandi 10031947532846001121 10031947532846001121 No Hearing Disorders Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. Mohsen Noorozian 10031947532846001122 10031947532846001122 No Department of Biology and Anatomical Sciences, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. Navid Ahmadi Roozbahani 10031947532846001123 10031947532846001123 No Hearing Disorders Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. Reza Mastery Farahani 10031947532846001124 10031947532846001124 No Department of Biology and Anatomical Sciences, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. Maryam Sadat Khoramgah 10031947532846001125 10031947532846001125 No Department of Medical Biotechnology, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. Hadi Azimi 10031947532846001126 10031947532846001126 No Department of English Language Teaching, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. Ayad Bahadori Monfared 10031947532846001127 10031947532846001127 No Department of Health & Community Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. Hojjat-Allah Abbaszadeh hoomanabs@gmail.com 10031947532846001128 10031947532846001128 Yes Department of Health & Community Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.