Abstract
An ultrastructural-morphometric study was carried out on the process of osteoid maturation in growing surfaces of parallel-fibered chick bone. The aim was to investigate the distribution, size and amount of collagen fibrils (CFs), as well as the proteoglycan (PG) content, throughout the osteoid seam and in the adjacent bone. The results show that the organic components secreted by osteoblasts undergo complete maturation inside the osteoid seam only. Proceeding from the secreting plasma membrane of osteoblasts (osteoidogenic surface) towards the mineralizing surface, we found that CFs gradually increase in diameter but not in number per surface unit. As a consequence, the proportion of osteoid seam occupied by CF increases too, at the expense of the interfibrillar substance. PG content also decreases inversely in this direction. In the adjacent bone, CF size and density do not change significantly with respect to the mature osteoid close to the mineralizing surface.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Baylink D, Wergedal J, Thompson E (1972) Loss of proteinpolysaccharides at sites where bone mineralization is initiated. J Histochem Cytochem 20:279–292
Bonucci E (1971) The locus of initial calcification in cartilage and bone. Clin Orthop 78:108–139
Bouvier M, Couble ML, Hartmann DJ, Gauthier JP, Magloire H (1990) Ultrastructural and immunocytochemical study of bone-derived cells cultured in three-dimensional matrices: influence of chondroitin-4 sulfate on mineralization. Differentiation 45:128–137
Casser-Bette M, Murray AB, Closs EI, Schmidt J (1990) Bone formation by osteoblast-like cells in a three-dimensional cell culture. Calcif Tissue Int 46:46–56
Dudley HR, Spiro D (1961) The fine structure of bone cells. J Biophys Biochem Cytol 11:627–649
Fitton-Jackson S (1957) The fine structure of developing bone in the embryonic fowl. Proc R Soc Lond [Biol] 146:270–280
Fornasier VL (1980) Transmission electron microscopy studies of osteoid maturation. Metab Bone Dis Rel Res 2S:103–108
Glimcher MJ (1959) Molecular biology of mineralized tissues with particular reference to bone. Rev Mod Phys 31:359–393
Knese HK (1979) Stützgewebe und Skelettsystem. In: Knese HK (ed) Handbuch der mikroskopischen Anatomie des Menschen, vol 2/5. Springer, Berlin Heidelberg New York, pp 513–594
Linde A, Lussi A (1989) Mineral induction by polyanionic dentin and bone proteins at physiological ionic conditions. Connect Tissue Res 21:197–203
Marotti G (1990) The original contribution of the scanning electron microscope to the knowledge of bone structure. In: Bonucci E, Motta PM (eds) Ultrastructure of skeletal tissues. Kluwer, Boston, pp 19–39
Marotti G (1993) A new theory of bone lamellation. Calcif Tissue Int 53 [Suppl 1]:S47-S56
Palumbo C (1986) A three-dimensional ultrastructural study of osteoid-osteocytes in the tibia of chick embryos. Cell Tissue Res 246:125–131
Palumbo C, Palazzini S, Zaffe D, Marotti G (1990a) Osteocyte differentiation in the tibia of newborn rabbit: an ultrastructural study of the formation of cytoplasmic processes. Acta Anat 137:350–358
Palumbo C, Palazzini S, Marotti G (1990b) Morphological study of intercellular junctions during osteocyte differentiation. Bone 11:401–406
Prince CW, Rahemtulla F, Butler WT (1983) Metabolism of rat bone proteoglycan in vivo. Biochem J 216:589–596
Pugliarello MC, Vittur F, De Bernard B, Bonucci E, Ascenzi A (1970) Chemical modification in osteons during calcification. Calcif Tissue Res 5:108–114
Ruggeri A, Dell'Orbo C, Quacci D (1975) Electron microscopic visualization of proteoglycans with Alcian Blue. Histochem J 7:187–197
Sauren YMHF, Mieremet RHP, Groot CG, Scherft JP (1992) An electron microscopic study on the presence of proteoglycans in the mineralized matrix of rat and human compact lamellar bone. Anat Rec 232:36–44
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Palumbo, C., Ferretti, M., Palazzini, S. et al. Morphometric study of collagen maturation in chick compact bone. Anat Embryol 191, 351–357 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00534688
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00534688