A Model for the Ultrastructure of Bone Based on Electron Microscopy of Ion-Milled Sections

The relationship between the mineral component of bone and associated collagen has been a matter of continued dispute. We use transmission electron microscopy (TEM) of cryogenically ion milled sections of fully-mineralized cortical bone to study the spatial and topological relationship between mineral and collagen. We observe that hydroxyapatite (HA) occurs largely as elongated plate-like structures which are external to and oriented parallel to the collagen fibrils. Dark field images suggest that the structures (“mineral structures”) are polycrystalline. They are approximately 5 nm thick, 70 nm wide and several hundred nm long. Using energy-dispersive X-ray analysis we show that approximately 70% of the HA occurs as mineral structures external to the fibrils. The remainder is found constrained to the gap zones. Comparative studies of other species suggest that this structural motif is ubiquitous in all vertebrates

Enamel Pits in Hamster Molars, Formed by a Single High Fluoride Dose, Are Associated with a Perturbation of Transitional Stage Ameloblasts

Excessive intake of fluoride (F) by young children results in formation of enamel subsurface porosities and pits, called enamel fluorosis. In this study, we used a single high dose of fluoride administered to hamster pups, to determine the stage of ameloblasts most affected by fluoride, and whether pit formation was related to F-related sub-ameloblastic cyst formation. Hamster pups received a single subcutaneous injection of either 20 mg or 40 mg NaF/kg body weights, were sacrificed 24 h later, and the number of cysts formed in the first molars counted. Other pups were sacrificed 8 days after F-injection when the first molars had just erupted, to score for enamel defects. All F-injected pups formed enamel defects in the upper half of the cusps in a dose-dependent way. After injection of 20 mg NaF/kg an average of 2.2 white spots per molar was found but no pits. At 40 mg NaF/kg, almost 4.5 spots per molar were counted as well as 2 pits per molar. The defects in erupted enamel were located in the upper half of the cusps, sites where cysts had formed at the transition stage of ameloblast differentiation. These results suggest that transitional ameloblasts, located between secretory and maturation stage ameloblasts, are most sensitive to the effects of a single high dose of fluoride. Fluoride- induced cysts formed earlier at the pre-secretory stage were not correlated to either white spots or enamel pits, suggesting that damaged ameloblasts overlying a fluoride induced cyst regenerate and continue to form enamel

Review of " Universal " Rules Governing Bone Composition, Organization, and Elasticity Across Organizational Hierarchies

International audienc