Bone Physiome

Objectives: In order to understand the physiological function of bone, bioengineering analyses use the computational solution with anatomically detailed geometric models that also reflect biological function. Therefore, it is of significance to collect configurational and conditional data of bone as to cells, tissues, and organs for establishing geometric model. In this paper, we examined 3-dimensional reconstruction of bone network, cell-cell communication via bone network, responsibility of bone cells in response to mechanical stress, and the stiffness of bone cells to have the platform in virtual-bone domain. Methods: Real bone-cell network was reconstructed from optically sliced images of calvaria bone cells. Cell-cell communication was examined with Fluorescence Recovery After Photobleaching (FRAP) analysis and microinjection methods. Real time analysis of calcium response in flow-treated bone cell was performed with Fluo-3 AM. The stiffness of the bone cells was measured with Anatomic Force Microscope (AFM). Results: The average total length of the processes, the average surface area, and the average volume of one osteocyte were 1070+145 um, 1509+113um2, and 394+49um3, respectively. Functional cell-cell communications via gap junctions were confirmed among the bone cells. Flow-induce intracellular calcium was seen in 32.4% of osteoblast population and 5.5% of osteocyte populations at 1.2 Pa of fluid shear stress. The stiffness of osteoblasts was higher than that of osteocytes. Conclusions: To establish and promote the bone physiome, it is of significant to collect configurational and conditional data as to bone.