title: Alveolar process anabolic activity in C3H/HeJ and C57BL/6J inbred mice.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The purpose of this study was to characterize bone activity of the alveolar process in C3H/HeJ (C3H) and C57BL/6J (B6) inbred mice. Based on observations in other animal species, we hypothesized that the bone-formation rate/bone surface (BFR/BS) is greater in the alveolar process compared to the body of the mandible and that the bone anabolic activity is greater in the alveolar process of the mandible than in the maxilla. We also examined the alveolar process of C3H and B6 mice for the presence of secondary osteons.
  
  
  METHODS
  Jaws from 17-week-old C3H and B6 female mice (N = 15/group) were harvested. Histomorphometric parameters were evaluated in sections from the alveolar process, each of which included at least one molar root.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In C3H and B6 mice, BFR/BS was not significantly different (P >0.05) between the alveolar process and the body of the mandible. In C3H mice, BFR/BS was significantly greater (P = 0.05) in the mandible compared to the maxilla. BFR/bone volume (BV) was not significantly different (P >0.05) between C3H mandible and maxilla. In the B6 inbred mouse, BFR/BS and BFR/bone volume (BV) were not significantly different (P >0.05) between jaws. After analyzing 165 bone sections, we identified 25 secondary osteons.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The surface anabolic activity was not different between the body and the alveolar process of the mandible. The surface activity was greater in the C3H mandible than in the maxilla. Although secondary osteonal bone remodeling existed in the C3H and B6 alveolar bone, this process was not a consistent finding.
authors.affiliation: Section of Oral Biology, College of Dentistry, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA.
authors.forename: Isaac F
authors.initials: IF
authors.lastname: Meta
authors.forename: Soledad A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Fernandez
authors.forename: Parul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Gulati
authors.forename: Sarandeep S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Huja
mesh_terms: D000539:Alveolar Process / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000378:metabolism*; D019412:Anatomy, Cross-Sectional; D000818:Animals; D016723:Bone Remodeling / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006253:Haversian System / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008334:Mandible / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000378:metabolism; D008437:Maxilla / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D008809:Mice, Inbred C3H; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008815:Mice, Inbred Strains; D008963:Molar / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D010012:Osteogenesis / Q000502:physiology*; D014092:Tooth Root / Q000033:anatomy & histology