ISSN:
1741-2358
Source:
Blackwell Publishing Journal Backfiles 1879-2005
Topics:
Medicine
Notes:
Mineralized tissues undergo continuous remodeling through an appropriate balance in activity of osteoblasts, which regulate bone formation, and osteoclasts, which regulate bone resorption. Identification of the factors which control the osteogenic process has not yet been accomplished. Such identification is vital however, if we are to understand any aberrations in remodeling, that may occur with disease and/or aging. It is known that aging is accompanied by a decrease in absolute bone volume, which may be attributed to alterations in bone specific factors that regulate osteoblast and osteoclast function. In order to better understand age associated bone changes, the author and colleagues have compared extracts of human fetal bone with adult bone using a chemotactic assay, SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and molecular sieve chromatography. The results show that the extract of adult bone, when compared with fetal bone, had a relative increase in organic components of lower molecular weight. Second, that chemoattractant activity was present in the extract of fetal bone, but not of adult bone. These differences may in part be related to the clinical condition of increased fracture rate and decreased fracture healing and bone remodeling in older individuals when compared with younger populations.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1741-2358.1984.tb00359.x
