Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 8, 2026
08:24
Measuring Bone Remodeling and Recreating the Tumor-Bone Microenvironment Using Calvaria Co-culture and Histomorphometry
Published on: March 14, 2020
7.3K
Bone Toolbox: Biomarkers, Imaging Tools, Biomechanics, and Histomorphometry
Aurore Varela1, Jacquelin Jolette1
11 Charles River Laboratories Montreal ULC, Senneville, Quebec, Canada.
Toxicologic Pathology
|July 6, 2018
Summary
Assessing bone health in preclinical studies requires multiple methods. Biomarkers, imaging, and histomorphometry provide sensitive, noninvasive tools to monitor bone turnover and drug effects for safety assessments.
Area of Science:
- Orthopedics and Bone Biology
- Preclinical Toxicology and Drug Safety
Background:
- Bone is a dynamic tissue with complex metabolic and cellular activities throughout life.
- Traditional histopathology has limitations in detecting early changes in bone formation, mineralization, and resorption.
- Assessing bone health is crucial for understanding drug safety and potential skeletal liabilities.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review and highlight the importance of various modalities for comprehensive bone health assessment in preclinical toxicology.
- To emphasize the role of noninvasive and sensitive techniques in evaluating drug effects on bone.
- To guide the integration of bone assessment methods into safety evaluation strategies.
Main Methods:
- Biomarker analysis (serum/urine) for real-time monitoring of bone turnover.
- In vivo imaging techniques including radiography, DXA, pQCT, micro-CT, and high-resolution pQCT.
- Undecalcified bone histomorphometry for detailed evaluation of bone resorption, formation, and mineralization.
- Biomechanical testing to assess bone mechanical properties and fracture risk.
Main Results:
- Clinically relevant biomarkers offer sensitive, noninvasive, real-time assessment of bone activity.
- Imaging modalities enable longitudinal, in vivo monitoring of drug effects on bone structure.
- Bone histomorphometry provides detailed insights into drug-induced changes in bone remodeling.
- Mechanical testing is critical for evaluating drug impact on bone health and fracture potential.
Conclusions:
- A combination of biomarkers, imaging, histomorphometry, and biomechanical testing provides a comprehensive approach to bone safety assessment.
- These integrated methods are essential for evaluating potential target- or class-related bone liabilities in preclinical studies.
- Careful consideration and integration of these techniques are necessary for robust pharmaceutical safety evaluations in rodents and non-rodents.
More Related Videos
07:29Undecalcified Bone Preparation for Histology, Histomorphometry and Fluorochrome Analysis
Published on: January 8, 2010
28.0K
06:28Biomechanical Changes Related to Low Back Pain: An Innovative Tool for Movement Pattern Assessment and Treatment Evaluation in Rehabilitation
Published on: December 13, 2024
1.5K
Related Concept Videos
01:20Blood Studies for Cardiovascular System I: Cardiac Biomarkers
899
Cardiac biomarkers are enzymes, proteins, and hormones released into the blood when cardiac cells are injured. They are powerful tools for triaging.
The essential diagnostic tools for detecting myocardial necrosis and monitoring individuals suspected of having acute coronary syndrome (ACS) include:
Troponins
Troponins, particularly cardiac troponins I and T, are the most precise and sensitive markers of myocardial injury. They are detectable within 4-6 hours of myocardial injury and remain...
The essential diagnostic tools for detecting myocardial necrosis and monitoring individuals suspected of having acute coronary syndrome (ACS) include:
Troponins
Troponins, particularly cardiac troponins I and T, are the most precise and sensitive markers of myocardial injury. They are detectable within 4-6 hours of myocardial injury and remain...
899
01:55Bone Structure
51.8K
Within the skeletal system, the structure of a bone, or osseous tissue, can be exemplified in a long bone, like the femur, where there are two types of osseous tissue: cortical and cancellous.
51.8K
01:40Bone Remodeling
40.5K
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.
40.5K
01:27Compact Bone
16.6K
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...
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...
16.6K
01:29Bone Disorders
5.4K
Aging and its effect on bone remodeling is the most common cause of bone disorders. In young and healthy people, bone deposition and resorption happen at an equal rate to maintain optimal bone health.
Bone deposition is also affected by the levels of sex hormones like estrogen and testosterone that promote osteoblast activity and bone matrix synthesis. When the level of these hormones decreases due to aging, it causes a reduction in bone deposition. As a result, bone resorption by osteoclasts...
Bone deposition is also affected by the levels of sex hormones like estrogen and testosterone that promote osteoblast activity and bone matrix synthesis. When the level of these hormones decreases due to aging, it causes a reduction in bone deposition. As a result, bone resorption by osteoclasts...
5.4K
01:12The Hyoid Bone
5.2K
The hyoid bone is a small U-shaped bone located in the upper neck at the level of the inferior mandible, with its tips pointing posteriorly. It does not directly articulate with any other bone in the body. The hyoid acts as the attachment site for the tongue, the larynx, and the pharynx. It is held in position by a series of small muscles attached from above or below. These muscles help to move the hyoid up/down or forward/back in coordination with movements of the tongue, larynx, and pharynx...
5.2K