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Electron microscopy of osteocytes and the pericellular matrix in rat trabecular bone

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Abstract

The fine structure of the osteocytes and of the immediately adjacent bone matrix has been studied in the jaws of young rats demineralized with EDTA. The events marking the life cycle of the cell and their effects on the pericellular bone substance have been grouped into 3 phases. 1. The formative period, where the osteocyte resembles an osteoblast but shows a gradual decrease in the amount of endoplasmic reticulum and in the size of the Golgi complex. 2. The beginning of resorption (osteocytic osteolysis) which is characterized by a further decrease of the secretory organelles and the jagged appearance of the perilacunar border. Later in this phase there is further development and activity of the lysosomes resulting in increased widening of the lacuna and accumulation in the lacuna of fibrillar and flocculent material. 3. The eventual degeneration and death of the cell. No evidence of regeneration (“osteoplasia”) has been observed.

Résumé

L'ultrastructure des ostéocytes et de la matrice osseuse adjacente a des été étudiée au niveau maxillaires de jeunes rats, après décalcification à l'E.D.T.A. Les événements caractéristiques du cycle d'évolution de la cellule et ses effets sur la substance osseuse péricellulaire, peuvent être groupés en 3 stades: 1. La période de formation, pendant laquelle l'ostéocyte, analogue à l'ostéoblaste, montre, cependant, une diminution progressive en ergastoplasme et une réduction de l'appareil de Golgi. 2. La phase de résorption (ostéolyse ostéocytaire) caractérisée par l'apparition des lysosomes et leur activité, provoquant un élargissement de la lacune, où s'accumule du matériel fibrillaire et floconneux. 3. La dégénérescence éventuelle et la mort de la cellule. Une régénérescence cellulaire (“ostéoplasie”) n'a pas été observée.

Zusammenfassung

Die Feinstruktur der Osteozyten und der unmittelbar angelagerten Knochenmatrix wurde an den Kiefern junger mit EDTA demineralisierten Ratten untersucht. Die Ereignisse, welche den Lebenszyklus der Zelle und ihre Wirkung auf die pericelluläre Knochensubstanz markieren, wurden in 3 Phasen eingeteilt: 1. die bildende Periode, während welcher der Osteocyt dem Osteoblasten gleicht, jedoch eine stufenweise Abnahme der Menge von endoplasmatischem Reticulum und in der Größe des Golgi-Apparates zeigt; 2. der Resorptionsbeginn (Osteozyten-Osteolyse), welcher durch eine weitere Abnahme der sekretorischen Organellen und das zackige Aussehen der perilacunären Grenze charakterisiert ist; 3. schließlich die Degeneration und der Tod der Zelle. Der Nachweis einer Regeneration („Osteoplasie”) konnte nicht erbracht werden.

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Jande, S.S., Bélanger, L.F. Electron microscopy of osteocytes and the pericellular matrix in rat trabecular bone. Calc. Tis Res. 6, 280–289 (1970). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02196209

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