Objective Metal wear products cause the aseptic loosening of joint prosthesis. To investigate the effect of metal ions Co2+ and Cr3+ on the osteoblast apoptosis, cell cycle distribution, and secretion of alkal ine phosphatase (ALP), and to search a method to prevent and treat aseptic loosening. Methods The mouse calvarial osteoblasts (MC3T3-E1) were cultured in vitro to 3-5 generations (5 × 105 cells/ mL) and divided into 2 groups: the experimental group and the controlgroup. The osteoblasts were cultured in α-MEM medium containing 10%FBS (the control group), and the mixed solution ofCoCl2 and CrCl3 was added after the osteoblasts cultured in α-MEM medium containing 10%FBS attached completely (the experimental group). At 12, 24, and 48 hours after culture, the osteoblast apoptosis and the cell cycle distribution were assessed by flow cytometry; and ELISA method was appl ied to detect ALP content in serum supernatant. Results At 12, 24, and 48 hours after culture, the apoptosis rates in the experimental group (13.90% ± 0.52%, 14.80% ± 0.41%, and 13.40% ± 0.26%) were significantly higher than those in the control group (8.56% ± 0.31%, 8.19% ± 0.24%, and 2.15% ± 0.11%), (P lt; 0.05); G2M (dividing phase) distribution ratio significantly decreased and G0G1 (dormancy stage) distribution ratio significantly increased when compared with those in the control group (P lt; 0.05); and the absorbency (A) values of ALP were 0.955 ± 0.052, 0.624 ± 0.041, and 0.498 ± 0.026 in the exprimental group, and were 1.664 ± 0.041, 1.986 ± 0.024, and 2.192 ± 0.041 in the control group, showing significant differences between 2 groups (P lt; 0.05). Conclusion Metal ions Co2+ and Cr3+ have a marked effect on osteoblasts cell cycle distribution, which can make most of the cells to be in dormancy stage (G0G1), up-regulate the apoptosis rate and inhibit the releasion of ALP from osteoblasts.