Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Osteoclasts in Bone Remodeling

Osteoclasts in Bone Remodeling

Osteoclasts are cells responsible for bone resorption and remodeling. They originate from hematopoietic progenitor cells present in the bone marrow. Numerous progenitor cells fuse to form multinucleated cells, each with 10-20 nuclei. A single osteoclast has a diameter of 150 to 200 µM. These cells have ruffled borders that break down the underlying bone tissue and release minerals such as calcium into the blood in bone resorption. Osteoclasts cling to bones with their ruffled edges during bone...

Bone Formation by Intramembranous Ossification

Bone Formation by Intramembranous Ossification

Intramembranous ossification is one of the two processes involved in the development of bones within an embryo. The flat bones of the face, most of the cranial bones, and the clavicles are formed via this process. During intramembranous ossification, the bones develop directly from sheets of undifferentiated mesenchymal connective tissue.
The process begins when mesenchymal cells in the embryonic skeleton gather together and differentiate into osteogenic cells, which then develop into...

Bone Formation by Endochondral Ossification

Bone Formation by Endochondral Ossification

Bone formation, or ossification, begins around the sixth to seventh week of embryonic development. Most bones develop from a cartilaginous template through the process of endochondral ossification. Cartilage formation begins when clusters of mesenchymal cells differentiate into chondrocytes. These chondrocytes proliferate rapidly and secrete an extracellular matrix that becomes encased in a membrane called the perichondrium. The resulting cartilage model provides a template that resembles the...

Bone Remodeling and Repair

Bone Remodeling and Repair

Osteoclasts are cells responsible for bone resorption and remodeling. They originate from hematopoietic progenitor cells present in the bone marrow. Numerous progenitor cells fuse to form multinucleated cells, each with 10-20 nuclei. A single osteoclast has a diameter of 150 to 200 µM. These cells have ruffled borders that break down the underlying bone tissue and release minerals such as calcium into the blood in bone resorption. Osteoclasts cling to bones with their ruffled edges during bone...

Bone Remodeling

Bone Remodeling

Bone remodeling is a continuous and balanced process of bone resorption by osteoclasts and bone formation by osteoblasts. In adults, it helps maintain bone mass and calcium homeostasis. While mechanical stress can stimulate turnover as part of the normal maintenance and reparative process, several hormones also regulate bone remodeling.

Compact Bone

Compact Bone

Most bones contain compact and spongy osseous tissue, but their distribution and concentration vary based on the bone's overall function.
Compact bone, also called cortical bone, is the denser, stronger of the two types of bone tissue. It is found under the periosteum and in the diaphyses of long bones, where it provides support and protection. The microscopic structural unit of compact bone is called an osteon, or haversian system. Each osteon is composed of concentric rings of calcified...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

The regenerative role of neural crest stem cells in physical stimuli-enhanced peripheral nerve repair.

Stem cell reports·2026

Same author

Effect of simplified exercise program on quality of life, biomarkers, pain and muscle strength of individuals with knee osteoarthritis.

Einstein (Sao Paulo, Brazil)·2025

Same author

Piezocatalytic ZnS: Mn<sup>2+</sup> Nanocrystals for Enhanced Organic Dye Degradation.

Materials and interfaces·2025

Same author

Enhanced neuromorphogenesis of neural stem cells via the optimization of physical stimulus-responsive signaling pathways.

Stem cell research & therapy·2025

Same author

Controllable Doping for Tunable and Multimodal Emission in ZnS-Based Mechanoluminescent Nanocrystals.

Nano letters·2025

Same author

Size and Structural Control of Mechanoluminescent ZnS:Mn<sup>2+</sup> Nanocrystals for Optogenetic Neuromodulation.

ACS nano·2025

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 8, 2026

A 3-D Visualization Technique for Bone Remodeling in a Suture Expansion Mouse Model

A 3-D Visualization Technique for Bone Remodeling in a Suture Expansion Mouse Model

Published on: August 18, 2023

Compressive forces induce osteogenic gene expression in calvarial osteoblasts.

Bjoern Rath¹, Jin Nam, Thomas J Knobloch

¹Biomechanics and Tissue Engineering Laboratory, The Ohio State University, 4010 Postle Hall, Columbus, OH 43210, USA.

Journal of Biomechanics

|January 15, 2008

Summary

Mechanical compressive forces promote osteoblast differentiation and bone formation. Low strain levels (10%) significantly increase bone morphogenic protein-2 and related gene expression, enhancing extracellular matrix production for fracture healing.

More Related Videos

Isolation of Mesenchymal Stem Cells from Human Alveolar Periosteum and Effects of Vitamin D on Osteogenic Activity of Periosteum-derived Cells

Isolation of Mesenchymal Stem Cells from Human Alveolar Periosteum and Effects of Vitamin D on Osteogenic Activity of Periosteum-derived Cells

Published on: May 4, 2018

A Fluorescent Intravital Imaging Approach to Study Load-Induced Calcium Signaling Dynamics in Mouse Osteocytes

A Fluorescent Intravital Imaging Approach to Study Load-Induced Calcium Signaling Dynamics in Mouse Osteocytes

Published on: February 24, 2023

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jul 8, 2026

A 3-D Visualization Technique for Bone Remodeling in a Suture Expansion Mouse Model

A 3-D Visualization Technique for Bone Remodeling in a Suture Expansion Mouse Model

Published on: August 18, 2023

Isolation of Mesenchymal Stem Cells from Human Alveolar Periosteum and Effects of Vitamin D on Osteogenic Activity of Periosteum-derived Cells

Isolation of Mesenchymal Stem Cells from Human Alveolar Periosteum and Effects of Vitamin D on Osteogenic Activity of Periosteum-derived Cells

Published on: May 4, 2018

A Fluorescent Intravital Imaging Approach to Study Load-Induced Calcium Signaling Dynamics in Mouse Osteocytes

A Fluorescent Intravital Imaging Approach to Study Load-Induced Calcium Signaling Dynamics in Mouse Osteocytes

Published on: February 24, 2023

Area of Science:

Biomaterials Science
Cell Biology
Orthopedics

Background:

Bone cells respond to mechanical stimuli, crucial for bone homeostasis and osteogenesis.
Mechanisms of osteogenic induction by mechanical signals remain poorly understood.
Compressive forces may influence osteoblast differentiation in a dose-dependent manner.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the osteogenic effects of compressive forces on osteoblasts.
To determine if compressive forces induce osteogenic differentiation in a dose-dependent manner.
To elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying mechanical stimulation-induced osteogenesis.

Main Methods:

Utilized electrospun poly(epsilon-caprolactone) (PCL) scaffolds for 3-D osteoblast culture.
Applied controlled levels of compressive strain (10% and 20%) to cell-scaffold constructs.
Analyzed cell proliferation, differentiation, matrix synthesis (SEM), and gene/protein expression (BMP-2, Runx2, Smad5, Akp2, Col1a1, etc.).

Main Results:

Pre-osteoblasts successfully adhered, proliferated, and differentiated on PCL scaffolds, increasing scaffold Young's modulus.
10% compressive strain rapidly induced key osteogenic markers (BMP-2, Runx2, Smad5) and enhanced ECM production genes/proteins.
20% compressive strain did not yield osteogenic effects, indicating a specific strain threshold.

Conclusions:

Compressive forces can exert a dose-dependent osteogenic effect on osteoblasts.
Mechanical stimulation, particularly at optimal strain levels, is a key driver of osteogenesis and fracture healing.
Findings provide molecular insights into how physical activity enhances bone repair through anabolic osteogenic effects.