An In Vivo Model for Investigations of Mechanical Signal Transduction in Trabecular Bone

The premise that bone cells are able to perceive and respond to mechanical forces is well accepted. This article describes the use of an in vivo hydraulic bone chamber for investigations of mechanical signal transduction. The servohydraulic loading mechanism was activated to apply a controlled compr...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of bone and mineral research 2000-07, Vol.15 (7), p.1346-1353
Main Authors: Moalli, Maria R., Caldwell, Nancy J., Patil, Pravin V., Goldstein, Steven A.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Alkaline Phosphatase - genetics
animal model
Animals
Biological and medical sciences
Bone and Bones - physiology
bone cells
Dogs
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Gene Expression Regulation
in vivo
Male
mechanotransduction
Models, Animal
Osteoblasts - cytology
Osteoblasts - metabolism
Procollagen - genetics
Signal Transduction
Skeleton and joints
Space life sciences
Stress, Mechanical
Titanium
Vertebrates: osteoarticular system, musculoskeletal system
Weight-Bearing
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Summary:The premise that bone cells are able to perceive and respond to mechanical forces is well accepted. This article describes the use of an in vivo hydraulic bone chamber for investigations of mechanical signal transduction. The servohydraulic loading mechanism was activated to apply a controlled compressive load to the woven trabecular bone that formed in one chamber, while the contralateral chamber served as an unloaded control. Specimens were harvested at a series of postload time points, and the cellular response to loading was evaluated by cytochemical, histomorphometric, and Northern blot analysis. A repetitive daily load stimulus elicited osteoblast biosynthetic activity characterized by an initial increase in type I procollagen by day 3 and a subsequent rise in alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity after the sixth daily load episode. Application of a single load episode induced a biphasic pattern of c‐fos and zif‐268 gene expression with up‐regulation at 30 minutes, down‐regulation at 12 h, and up‐regulation 24 h after the mechanical stimulus. The results show that a synchronized pattern of bone cell activity and gene expression occurs in response to controlled mechanical stimulation and that candidate load‐responsive molecular mediators can be evaluated easily by this model.
ISSN:0884-0431
1523-4681
DOI:10.1359/jbmr.2000.15.7.1346