Osteoclast formation in vitro from bone marrow mononuclear cells in osteoclast-free bone

Recent evidence points to the fact that osteoclasts are derived from mononuclear cells of hematopoietic bone marrow. In this study we have examined the formation of osteoclasts from mononuclear cells in vitro. The mononuclear cells were isolated after 7 days from cultures of mouse bone marrow cells. The isolated cells were co-cultured with osteoclast-free, fetal-mouse calvaria. After 10 to 14 days of co-culture, multinucleated cells which have all the characteristics of osteoclasts were found in juxtaposition to seams of woven bone. These data strongly suggest that bone marrow mononuclear cells, when suitably induced, can give rise to osteoclasts in vitro.