Spatial variations in the osteocyte lacuno-canalicular network density and analysis of the connectomic parameters

Osteocyte lacuno-canalicular network (LCN) is comprised of micrometre-sized pores and submicrometric wide channels in bone. Accumulating evidence suggests multiple functions of this network in material transportation, mechanobiological signalling, mineral homeostasis and bone remodelling. Combining rhodamine staining and confocal laser scanning microscopy, the longitudinal cross-sections of six mouse tibiae were imaged, and the connectome of the network was quantified with a focus on the spatial heterogeneities of network density, connectivity and length of canaliculi. In-vivo loading and double calcein labelling on these tibiae allowed differentiating the newly formed bone from the pre-existing regions. The canalicular density of the murine cortical bone varied between 0.174 and 0.243 μm/μm3, and therefore is three times larger than the corresponding value for human femoral midshaft osteons. The spatial heterogeneity of the network was found distinctly more pronounced across the cortex than along the cortex. We found that in regions with a dense network, the LCN conserves its largely tree-like character, but increases the density by including shorter canaliculi. The current study on healthy mice should serve as a motivating starting point to study the connectome of genetically modified mice, including models of bone diseases and of reduced mechanoresponse.

Effect of in vivo loading on bone composition varies with animal age

Loading can increase bone mass and size and this response is reduced with aging. It is unclear, however how loading affects bone mineral and matrix properties. Fourier Transform Infrared Imaging and high resolution synchrotron scanning small angle X-ray scattering were used to study how bone’s microscale and nanoscale compositional properties were altered in the tibial midshaft of young, adult, and elderly female C57Bl/6J mice after two weeks of controlled in vivo compressive loading in comparison to physiological loading. The effect of controlled loading on bone composition varied with animal age, since it predominantly influenced the bone composition of elderly mice. Interestingly, controlled loading led to enhanced collagen maturity in elderly mice. In addition, although the rate of bone formation was increased by controlled loading based on histomorphometry, the newly formed tissue had similar material quality to new bone tissue formed during physiological loading. Similar to previous studies, our data showed that bone composition was animal and tissue age dependent during physiological loading. The findings that the new tissue formed in response to controlled loading and physiological loading had similar bone composition and that controlled loading enhanced bone composition in elderly mice further supports the use of physical activity as a noninvasive treatment to enhance bone quality as well as maintain bone mass in individuals suffering from age-related bone loss.

Relationship between nanoscale mineral properties and calcein labeling in mineralizing bone surfaces

Bone's mineral properties, such as particle thickness and degree of alignment have been associated with bone quality. Bone formation, remodeling, aging of the tissue and mineral homeostasis influence mineral particle properties leading to specific patterns across bone. Scanning small angle X-ray scattering (sSAXS) with synchrotron radiation is a powerful tool, which allows us to study bone's nanoscale mineral properties in a position-resolved way. We used sSAXS, fluorescence light microscopy and backscattered electron (BSE) imaging to study bone's mineral properties at the tibial midshaft of in vivo-loaded mice. By combining these techniques, we could detect local changes in mineral properties. Regions labeled with calcein fluorochrome have lower mean mineral thickness and degree of mineral alignment. We also observed thinner and less aligned mineral particles near blood vessels. We conclude that mineral properties (i) are altered by fluorochrome labeling and (ii) depend on the proximity to blood vessels.

Diminished response to in vivo mechanical loading in trabecular and not cortical bone in adulthood of female C57Bl/6 mice coincides with a reduction in deformation to load

Bone loss occurs during adulthood in both women and men and affects trabecular bone more than cortical bone. The mechanism responsible for trabecular bone loss during adulthood remains unexplained, but may be due at least in part to a reduced mechanoresponsiveness. We hypothesized that trabecular and cortical bone would respond anabolically to loading and that the bone response to mechanical loading would be reduced and the onset delayed in adult compared to postpubescent mice. We evaluated the longitudinal adaptive response of trabecular and cortical bone in postpubescent, young (10 week old) and adult (26 week old) female C57Bl/6J mice to axial tibial compression using in vivo microCT (days 0, 5, 10, and 15) and dynamic histomorphometry (day 15). Loading elicited an anabolic response in both trabecular and cortical bone in young and adult mice. As hypothesized, trabecular bone in adult mice exhibited a reduced and delayed response to loading compared to the young mice, apparent in trabecular bone volume fraction and architecture after 10 days. No difference in mechanoresponsiveness of the cortical bone was observed between young and adult mice. Finite element analysis showed that load-induced strain was reduced with age. Our results suggest that trabecular bone loss that occurs in adulthood may in part be due to a reduced mechanoresponsiveness in this tissue and/or a reduction in the induced tissue deformation which occurs during habitual loading. Therapeutic approaches that address the mechanoresponsiveness of the bone tissue may be a promising and alternate strategy to maintain trabecular bone mass during aging.