Visualisation of developmental ossification using trace element mapping

DOI: 10.1039/C7JA00042A

Authors: Jennifer Anne (University of Manchester) , Nicholas P. Edwards (University of Manchester; University of Southampton) , Arjen Van Veelen (University of Manchester) , Victoria Egerton (University of Manchester; College of Charleston) , Phillip L. Manning (University of Manchester; College of Charleston) , J . Frederick W. Mosselmans (Diamond Light Source) , Stephen Parry (Diamond Light Source) , William I. Sellers (University of Manchester) , Michael Buckley (University of Manchester) , Roy A. Wogelius (University of Manchester)
Co-authored by industrial partner: No

Type: Journal Paper
Journal: J. Anal. At. Spectrom. , VOL 21

State: Published (Approved)
Published: March 2017
Diamond Proposal Number(s): 11865

Abstract: Endochondral ossification is the process by which bone is deposited during development, growth and repair of the skeleton. The regulation of endochondral ossification is extremely important as developmental flaws can result in severe skeletal abnormalities. However, until recently the limitations of available methodologies have restricted our understanding of this fundamental physiological process. The analysis of chemical elements that are intimately associated with discrete biochemical stages of ossification within bone could provide new insight to such processes at the atomic level. In this study we present detailed characterisation of the elemental inventory within actively ossifying bone during development in mice using synchrotron microfocus X-ray techniques. X-ray fluorescence imaging showed differential distributions of Zn, Sr and Ca, which may be correlated with the processes of cartilage replacement (Zn), active ossification (Sr) and fully ossified tissues (Ca). Quantification of these trace elements confirmed their relative distributions. These results represent the first detailed visualisation of local endochondral ossification processes using trace elemental mapping. Such studies have far reaching applications not only in the medical field, but to our understanding of the evolution of the bony skeleton given that trace element inventories have been shown to be preserved through deep time (millions of years).

Journal Keywords: ossification, bone fossil , xrf mapping

Subject Areas: Biology and Bio-materials, Earth Science


Instruments: B18-Core EXAFS , I18-Microfocus Spectroscopy