Abstract
Specimens of human, dog, and rabbit articular cartilage, annulus fibrosis, meniscus, tendon, and subchondral bone were analyzed using the electron microprobe to weight percentage content sulfur, calcium, and phosphorus. Sulfur concentrations were highest in articular cartilage and progressively decreased for annulus fibrosis, meniscus, tendon, and subchondral bone. Calcium and phosphorus content determinations were significant only in bone and confirmed values previously determined. Sulfur determinations have delineated a new technique for characterizing these musculo-skeletal tissues and, in some cases, appear to enable identification of a particular tissue by means of determining its sulfur concentration alone.
References
Baker, J. R.: Principles of biological medical technique, p. 58. New York: John Wiley and Sons, Inc. 1958
Brooks, E. J., Tousimis, A. J., Birks, L. S.: The distribution of calcium in the epiphyseal cartilage of the rat tibia measured with the electron probe X-ray microanalyzer. J. Ultrastruct Res.7, 56–62 (1962)
Colby, J.: Advances in X-ray analysis, vol. II, p. 287–305, New York: Plenum Press 1968
Hohling, H. J., Hall, T. A., Boothroyd, B., Cooke, C. J., Duncumb, P., Fernhead, R. W., Fitton-Jackson, S.: Electron probe studies of prestages of apatite formation in bone and aorta. In: Les tissues calcifiés (Milhoud, P., Owen, M., Blackwood, H. J. J., eds.), p. 323–328. Paris: Soc. D’Edition D’Enseignement 1970
Jowsey, J., Kelly, P., Riggs, B., Bianco, A. J., Jr., Scholz, D., Gershon-Cohen, J.: Quantitative microradiographic studies of normal and osteoporotic bone. J. Bone J. Surg.A47, 785–806 (1965)
Mellors, R. C.: Electron probe microanalysis I. Calcium and phosphorus in normal human cortical bone. Lab. Invest.13, 183–195 (1964)
Mellors, R. C., Carrill, K. G., A new method for local chemical analysis of human tissue. Nature (Lond.)192, 1090–1092 (1961)
Remagen, W., Hohung, N. J., Hall, T. A., Caesar, R.: Electron microscopical and microprobe observations on the cell sheath of stimulated osteocytes. Calcif. Tiss. Res.4, 60–68 (1969)
Robison, L. R.: Applications of the electron microprobe to the analysis of biological materials. In: Microprobe analysis (C. A. Anderson, ed.), p. 271–321. New York: Wiley Intersciences 1973
Rosenberg, L.: Chemical basis for the histological use of safranin O in the study of articular cartilage. J. Bone Jt. Surg.A53, 69–82 (1971)
Rosenberg, L. C.: Articular cartilage repair. Presented at American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons Post-Graduate Course on Basic Science of Bone and Cartilage. Philadelphia (May 1974)
Wergedal, J. E., Baylink, D. J.: Electron microprobe measurements of bone mineralization ratein vivo. Am. J. Physiol.226, 345–352 (1974)
Woodward, H. Q.: The elementary composition of human cortical bone. Hlth. Phys.8, 513–517 (1962)
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Chiroff, R.T., White, R.A., Tarhay, L. et al. Use of the electron microprobe in the characterization of bone, cartilage, and tendon. Calc. Tis Res. 17, 87–89 (1974). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02547217
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02547217