Bone resorption in osteosclerotic mice is reduced in vitro

Osteopetrosis in mammals results from a congenital reduction in bone resorption. Calvarial organ cultures were used to measure bone resorption in osteosclerotic (oc/oc) mice and their normal littermates. Measurements of cell-mediated resorption indicate that baseline isotope release by mutant calvariae was only 57% of that observed in normal littermates and isotope release by mutant bone in the presence of parathyroid hormone (PTH) was only 60% of that in normal controls. However, the response of oc calvariae to PTH was not different from normal bone when considered with respect to baseline resorption. These data indicate that bone resorption in oc mice is reduced in both its basal level and in response to PTH and suggest that oc mice are unable to establish normal baseline resorption which may in turn compromise their responsiveness to PTH.