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Related Concept Videos

The Bone Matrix01:18

The Bone Matrix

Bone contains a relatively small number of cells entrenched in a matrix of collagen fibers that provide an adherent surface for inorganic salt crystals. Both components of the matrix, organic and inorganic, contribute to the unusual properties of bone. Without collagen, bones would be brittle and shatter easily. Without mineral crystals, bones would flex and provide little support. This can be observed by an experiment: when the minerals of a bone are dissolved by soaking the bone in acid or...
Bone Remodeling01:40

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.
Essential Minerals for Bone Health01:31

Essential Minerals for Bone Health

The minerals contained in all of the food we consume are essential for our organ systems. However, certain essential minerals, such as calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, manganese, and fluoride, largely affect bone health.
Calcium and Phosphorus
Calcium is a critical component of bones, especially in the form of calcium phosphate and calcium carbonate. Since the body cannot make calcium, it must be obtained from the diet. However, calcium cannot be absorbed from the small intestine without...
Osteoclasts in Bone Remodeling01:31

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 Endochondral Ossification01:24

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 Cells and Tissue01:30

Bone Cells and Tissue

Bones contain a relatively small number of cells entrenched in a matrix of organic and inorganic components. Although bone cells compose only a small amount of the bone volume, they are crucial to its function. Four types of cells are found within the bone tissue— osteoblasts, osteocytes, osteogenic cells, and osteoclasts.
Osteoblasts and Osteocytes
The osteoblast is the bone cell responsible for forming new bone tissue. It is found in the growing portions of bone, including the periosteum and...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 6, 2026

Analysis of Minerals Produced by hFOB 1.19 and Saos-2 Cells Using Transmission Electron Microscopy with Energy Dispersive X-ray Microanalysis
14:55

Analysis of Minerals Produced by hFOB 1.19 and Saos-2 Cells Using Transmission Electron Microscopy with Energy Dispersive X-ray Microanalysis

Published on: June 24, 2018

Matrix mineralization as a trigger for osteocyte maturation.

Kazuharu Irie1, Sadakazu Ejiri, Yasunori Sakakura

  • 1Division of Anatomy, Department of Oral Growth and Development, Health Sciences University of Hokkaido School of Dentistry, Hokkaido, Japan. irie@hoku-iryo-u.ac.jp

The Journal of Histochemistry and Cytochemistry : Official Journal of the Histochemistry Society
|March 6, 2008
PubMed
Summary

Bone matrix mineralization triggers osteocyte maturation. Immature osteocytes in unmineralized bone lack sclerostin, while mature osteocytes in mineralized bone express it, indicating mineralization is key for osteocyte differentiation.

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Last Updated: Jul 6, 2026

Analysis of Minerals Produced by hFOB 1.19 and Saos-2 Cells Using Transmission Electron Microscopy with Energy Dispersive X-ray Microanalysis
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Application of Retinoic Acid to Obtain Osteocytes Cultures from Primary Mouse Osteoblasts
07:13

Application of Retinoic Acid to Obtain Osteocytes Cultures from Primary Mouse Osteoblasts

Published on: May 13, 2014

Area of Science:

  • Bone Biology
  • Cellular Morphology
  • Sclerostin Biology

Background:

  • Osteocytes, embedded within the bone matrix, undergo morphological changes throughout their lifespan.
  • Initially, osteocytes are 'immature' and plump with abundant organelles, later becoming 'mature' as they reside deeper in the bone matrix.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the hypothesis that bone matrix mineralization is the primary trigger for osteocyte maturation.
  • To examine the morphological and sclerostin expression changes in osteocytes when matrix mineralization is inhibited.

Main Methods:

  • Administration of 1-hydroxyethylidene-1,1-bisphosphonate (HEBP) to rats to inhibit matrix mineralization.
  • Microscopic examination of osteocyte morphology in mineralized and unmineralized bone matrices.
  • Immunohistochemical analysis for sclerostin expression in osteocytes using anti-sclerostin antibody.

Main Results:

  • HEBP administration effectively disturbed matrix mineralization without affecting matrix formation.
  • Osteocytes within unmineralized matrix remained immature, while those in mineralized matrix exhibited mature morphology.
  • Immature osteocytes in unmineralized matrix did not express sclerostin, unlike mature osteocytes in mineralized matrix.

Conclusions:

  • Matrix mineralization is the critical trigger for osteocyte cytodifferentiation from an immature to a mature state.
  • Osteocyte maturation, coinciding with matrix mineralization, appears necessary for the initiation of sclerostin secretion.