ABSTRACT
Bone collagen has a specific molecular ultrastructure which can be proved by birefringence. This protein, forming the main organic component of bone tissue, is known to survive millennia in paleontological bones and teeth. Birefringence of bone collagen obtained from the skeletons of the Nuraghi population living in Sardinia c-ca 1500 years B.C. was found previously by the use of polarizing microscopy [1]. In this paper, using high pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) techniques, we show the existence of bone collagen cross-links preserved in Nuraghi skeletons after more than 3000 years.
Subject(s)
Collagen/analysis , Paleopathology , Tibia/chemistry , Amino Acids/analysis , Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid , Dipeptides/analysis , History, Ancient , Humans , Hydroxyproline/analysis , Italy , Male , Microscopy, PolarizationABSTRACT
The osteopetrotic mib mutation in rats causes defects in the skeletal bone tissue in young animals. These defects, i.e. slow bone remodelling, changes in both crystallinity and mineral content, are transient and undergo normalization, even without any treatment in 6-wk-old animals. Treatment with CSF-1 (colony stimulating factor-1) accelerates the normalization process in skeletal bones. The periodontal tissues around the apices of incisors show abnormalities caused by the slow remodelling process of the mandible bone tissue, the deficiency of osteoclasts and their abnormal morphology, as well as the disorganization of periodontal ligament fibres. In contrast to the skeletal tissues, these abnormalities would not undergo spontaneous normalization. Under treatment with colony stimulating factor 1 (CSF-1), the primitive bone trabeculae of mandible are resorbed and the normalization of the number of osteoclasts and their cytology occurs. The organization of the periodontal ligament fibres is partially restored, resembling the histological structure of the normal one.
Subject(s)
Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor/therapeutic use , Osteopetrosis/drug therapy , Periodontium/drug effects , Animals , Bone Remodeling/drug effects , Incisor , Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor/pharmacology , Mandible/drug effects , Mandible/pathology , Osteoclasts/drug effects , Periodontal Ligament/drug effects , Rats , Rats, Mutant StrainsABSTRACT
It is known from the literature that bisphosphonates inhibit mineralization process in skeletal tissues. To study in vivo the effects of HEBP (etidronate) and Cl2MBP (clodronate) both on preexisting bone mineral as well as on the early stages of the mineralization process the experimental model of heterotopical bone induction was chosen. Urinary bladder mucosa was used as an inductor of osteogenesis. Using this model it is possible to compare the effects of bisphosphonates on preexisting mineral on ortothopic bones as well as on the early stages of mineral deposition in the newly formed bone induced in heterotopic sites. HEBP and Cl2MBP doesn't inhibit heterotopic bone induction, but HEBP deeply inhibits the mineralization process; the small amount of deposited mineral does not contain crystalline fraction.
Subject(s)
Calcification, Physiologic/drug effects , Clodronic Acid/pharmacology , Etidronic Acid/pharmacology , Animals , Bone Transplantation , Disease Models, Animal , Guinea Pigs , Ossification, Heterotopic/prevention & control , Osteogenesis/drug effects , Transplantation, Heterotopic , Urinary BladderABSTRACT
The molecular structure of bone collagen was found to be preserved in Nuragic bone samples several centuries after burial. Enhanced birefringence of bone and dentin collagen fibres observed in polarized light after Sirus red staining was used to demonstrate this fact.
