title: Inherent physical characteristics and gene expression differences between alveolar and basal bones.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The objective of this study was to evaluate the baseline differences between alveolar and basal areas of the rat mandible.
  
  
  METHODS
  Rat mandibular alveolar and basal bones were evaluated using histology and micro-computed tomography to compare osteocyte number as well as bone density and architecture and polymerase chain reaction to measure gene expression levels.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Micro-computed tomography data indicated that basal bone is denser and less porous than alveolar bone. Histologic analysis showed that alveolar bone has more osteocytes per unit area compared with basal bone. Real-time polymerase chain reaction results showed higher levels of expression of the following genes in basal bone than in alveolar bone: SOST, E-11, DMP-1, and MEPE.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Three of these gene products are associated with mature osteocytes, and this suggests that basal bone has more mature osteocyte phenotypes compared with alveolar bone. These findings are suggestive of fewer bone mineralization units and therefore a slower remodeling rate.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, University of Detroit Mercy, Detroit, MI, USA.
authors.forename: Ibrahim
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Zakhary
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Biology, Augusta University, Augusta, GA, USA.
authors.forename: Fawwaz
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Alotibi
authors.affiliation: Western University, Pomona, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Jill
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lewis
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Biology, Augusta University, Augusta, GA, USA.
authors.forename: Mohammed
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: ElSalanty
authors.affiliation: Regencor LLC, Augusta, GA, USA.
authors.forename: Karl
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Wenger
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Biology, Augusta University, Augusta, GA, USA.
authors.forename: Mohamed
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sharawy
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Biology, Augusta University, Augusta, GA, USA. Electronic address: rmesser@augusta.edu.
authors.forename: Regina L W
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Messer
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015519:Bone Density / Q000235:genetics; D019485:Bone Morphogenetic Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D002113:Calcification, Physiologic / Q000235:genetics; D016326:Extracellular Matrix Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D015870:Gene Expression; D005819:Genetic Markers / Q000235:genetics; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000235:genetics; D008297:Male; D008334:Mandible / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000235:genetics; D010011:Osteocytes / Q000166:cytology; D010641:Phenotype; D010750:Phosphoproteins / Q000235:genetics; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D055114:X-Ray Microtomography; D000098853:Podoplanin
chemical_list: D019485:Bone Morphogenetic Proteins; D016326:Extracellular Matrix Proteins; D005819:Genetic Markers; D006023:Glycoproteins; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D010750:Phosphoproteins; C081635:Dmp1 protein, rat; C417185:Mepe protein, rat; C092025:Pdpn protein, rat; D000098853:Podoplanin; C486031:Sost protein, rat