[Assessment of bone quality. Observation of lacuna-canalicular network in single trabecula].
Osteocytes embedded in bone matrix, making a three-dimensional network system connected each other via cell processes, are considered as the mechanosensor cells that play important roles in the regulatory mechanism of adaptive bone remodeling. Three-dimensional network structure of the lacuna-canalicular system in a trabecula was fluorescently visualized by confocal laser-scanning microscopy, and the morphological characteristics of the network were quantitatively evaluated. The canalicular network orientation was determined by fitting the fabric ellipse, and the normal vector field was derived from the gradient of a distance function from trabecular surface. As a result, the network orientation was found to approximately coincide with the normal direction to the trabecular surface.
Adachi
Taiji
T
Kyoto University, Department of Mechanical Engineering and Science.
D000818:Animals; D016723:Bone Remodeling / Q000502:physiology; D001842:Bone and Bones / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D008465:Mechanoreceptors; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D010011:Osteocytes / Q000502:physiology*; D013314:Stress, Mechanical; D013552:Swine