Watching Bones Get Stronger

ROSEMONT, Ill., April 2, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Bones provide support, protect our internal organs from injury and allow the body to move.  They also have the amazing ability to adapt to the loads that are placed on them. Depending on the loading conditions bone can become either stronger with increased loads or weaker when loads are decreased. The ability of bone to adapt its shape and mass in response to the mechanical loads is called mechano-adaptation.

The process of bone adaptions to loads, however, is still unknown. Gaining knowledge of how bone increases its mass could enable us to mimic this process in order to reduce or reverse bone loss, thereby decreasing the risk of fracture.

"Our current study explores the link between bone adaptation and mechanical environment, and in particular how this process happens during aging," explains Alessandra Carriero. Carriero recently presented her work at the Annual Meeting of the Orthopaedic Research Society (ORS).  "If we know the mechano-adaptation properties of the bone, can we predict changes in bone during aging with mechanical stimulus? And what is the mechanical stimulus for bone adaptation? This is the aim of our research."

Traditionally, this type of research has relied on animal models, applying loads to bones and observing where and how bone adapts using several 2D slices to represent an entire bone.  However, Carriero's team has developed a 3D histology method to detect bone formation.  "This is the novelty of our current study," Carriero explains. "This is done with a machine called histocutter, which is a combination of a fluorescence microscope and a microtrome, to cut slices of bone out of the view of the microscope."

This technique provides them with a 3D image.  "With these techniques we can now determine if the adaptive response is local (bone forms in regions of high strain) or global (bone forms so that the entire strain in the bone is reduced)," says Carriero.

The ultimate goal of this team's research is to learn more about bone adaptation in the hopes of improving the care of aging patients.  "Once we understand how bone adapts to mechanical loads and if we demonstrate that certain loading regimes can restore bone adaptive response," says Carriero, "we can design treatment regimens to ensure normal adaptation processes."

Founded in 1954, the Orthopaedic Research Society strives to be the world's leading forum for the dissemination of new musculoskeletal research findings.  The musculoskeletal system provides form, support, stability, and movement to the body.

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SOURCE Orthopaedic Research Society

Related Links

http://www.ors.org