3D Interrelationship between Osteocyte Network and Forming Mineral during Human Bone Remodeling

During bone remodeling, osteoblasts are known to deposit unmineralized collagenous tissue (osteoid), which mineralizes after some time lag. Some of the differentiate into osteocytes, forming a cell network within lacunocanalicular (LCN) bone. To get more insight potential role osteocytes in mineralization process osteoid, sites formation three-dimensionally imaged nine human osteons using focused ion beam-scanning electron microscopy (FIB-SEM). In agreement with previous observations, mineral concentration is found gradually increase from central Haversian canal toward pre-existing mineralized Most interestingly, similar feature discovered on length scale than 100-times smaller, whereby increases LCN, leaving around canaliculi zone virtually free mineral, size decreases progressing mineralization. This suggests that LCN controls but not just by diffusion precursors, would lead continuous decrease LCN. The observation is, however, compatible codiffusion and reaction precursors inhibitors matrix.