Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Hormones and Bone Tissue01:17

Hormones and Bone Tissue

2.6K
The endocrine system produces and secretes hormones, which interact with the skeletal system. These hormones control bone growth, maintain bone once it is formed, and remodel it.
Hormones That Influence Osteoblasts and/or Maintain the Matrix
Several hormones are necessary for controlling bone growth and maintaining the bone matrix. The pituitary gland secretes growth hormone (GH), which, as its name implies, controls bone growth. This happens in several ways: first, it triggers chondrocyte...
2.6K
Bone Remodeling01:40

Bone Remodeling

38.3K
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.
38.3K
Bone Formation by Intramembranous Ossification01:29

Bone Formation by Intramembranous Ossification

5.9K
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 ...
5.9K
Bone Disorders01:29

Bone Disorders

3.5K
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...
3.5K
Functions of Thyroid Hormones01:18

Functions of Thyroid Hormones

2.7K
The thyroid hormone (TH) plays a pivotal role in the intricate orchestration of physiological processes, exerting profound effects on development, metabolism, and homeostasis throughout different life stages.
TH is indispensable for the normal development and maturation of the skeletal, muscular, and nervous systems during fetal and childhood growth. It facilitates bone mineral turnover and regulates protein synthesis in developing tissues, contributing significantly to overall growth and...
2.7K
Osteoclasts in Bone Remodeling01:31

Osteoclasts in Bone Remodeling

2.9K
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...
2.9K

You might also read

Related Articles

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

Sort by
Same author

Edible Sulfonated Soy Protein Microcarriers for Cultivated Meat Cell Expansion.

Journal of biomedical materials research. Part A·2026
Same author

GelMA Hydrogel Stiffness Modulates IL-6- and BMP-2-Induced Immune Dysregulation in Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells.

Biomedicines·2026
Same author

Wnt/β-catenin signaling regulates fibrotic atrophy of intra-articular adipose tissue in post-traumatic osteoarthritis.

bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology·2026
Same author

Schwann Cell Mapping and Characterization in Bone of Different Embryonic Origins.

bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology·2026
Same author

Maternal high-fat/high-sugar diet has single-generation dental effects and two-generation skeletal effects in adult offspring mice.

European journal of orthodontics·2026
Same author

Quantification of SARM1 NADase Activity in Human Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells.

FASEB journal : official publication of the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology·2026

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 21, 2025

Culturing and Measuring Fetal and Newborn Murine Long Bones
06:58

Culturing and Measuring Fetal and Newborn Murine Long Bones

Published on: April 26, 2019

8.2K

A maternal brain hormone that builds bone.

Muriel E Babey1, William C Krause2, Kun Chen3

  • 1Department of Medicine, Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA.

Nature
|July 10, 2024
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Cellular Communication Network factor 3 (CCN3) from brain neurons builds bone in lactating mothers. This hormone supports bone mass and ensures offspring survival, offering potential new therapies for bone loss.

More Related Videos

Culture of Murine Embryonic Metatarsals: A Physiological Model of Endochondral Ossification
07:23

Culture of Murine Embryonic Metatarsals: A Physiological Model of Endochondral Ossification

Published on: December 3, 2016

11.9K
Author Spotlight: Collecting the Brain and Serum from the Same Mice Fetus to Study Brain Tumor Development
05:44

Author Spotlight: Collecting the Brain and Serum from the Same Mice Fetus to Study Brain Tumor Development

Published on: May 17, 2024

550

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 21, 2025

Culturing and Measuring Fetal and Newborn Murine Long Bones
06:58

Culturing and Measuring Fetal and Newborn Murine Long Bones

Published on: April 26, 2019

8.2K
Culture of Murine Embryonic Metatarsals: A Physiological Model of Endochondral Ossification
07:23

Culture of Murine Embryonic Metatarsals: A Physiological Model of Endochondral Ossification

Published on: December 3, 2016

11.9K
Author Spotlight: Collecting the Brain and Serum from the Same Mice Fetus to Study Brain Tumor Development
05:44

Author Spotlight: Collecting the Brain and Serum from the Same Mice Fetus to Study Brain Tumor Development

Published on: May 17, 2024

550

Area of Science:

  • Neuroendocrinology
  • Skeletal Biology
  • Reproductive Biology

Background:

  • Lactation causes significant bone loss in mothers due to high calcium demands.
  • Estrogen levels drop postpartum, reducing bone protection.
  • A previously observed female-specific dense bone phenotype suggested a humoral factor involved.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To identify the humoral factor responsible for bone mass regulation during lactation.
  • To investigate the role of brain-derived Cellular Communication Network factor 3 (CCN3) in bone metabolism.
  • To determine if CCN3 acts as an osteoanabolic hormone.

Main Methods:

  • Identification of CCN3 as the humoral factor secreted by arcuate nucleus KISS1 (ARCKISS1) neurons.
  • Assessing CCN3's effect on mouse and human skeletal stem cell activity in vitro.
  • Evaluating CCN3's impact on bone remodeling and fracture repair in mice.
  • Manipulating CCN3 expression in ARCKISS1 neurons of lactating mice.

Main Results:

  • CCN3 stimulates skeletal stem cell activity and osteochondrogenic potential.
  • CCN3 promotes bone remodeling and accelerates fracture repair in both young and old mice.
  • Reduced CCN3 levels in lactating mothers led to bone loss and impaired offspring survival on a low-calcium diet.
  • CCN3 expression in ARCKISS1 neurons increases during lactation.

Conclusions:

  • CCN3 is a novel, brain-derived osteoanabolic hormone crucial for maintaining bone mass during lactation.
  • CCN3 acts as a maternal hormone essential for offspring survival.
  • CCN3 represents a potential therapeutic target for treating bone loss in both sexes.