| dc.description.abstract | Old bones, new structures – detection of adipocyte templated excrescences in aged human bone Adam Taylor1, Chris Platt2, Peter Wilson2, Lakshminarayan Ranganath2, Jim Gallagher2, Alan Boyde3 1Lancaster Medical School, Lancaster University, Lancaster, UK 2Bone and Joint Research Group Musculoskeletal Biology, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK 3DPS, Queen Mary, University of London, London, E1 4NS, UK Introduction: We have previously shown trabecular bony excrescences, apparently made and moulded by adipocytes in pathological bone samples from OA and alkaptonuria patients. There is a question whether these distinctive microanatomical structures are indicative of abnormal activity or osteoarthropathies, possibly secondary to altered mechanical loading or other aberrant signalling, or whether they may also be found in normal, non-pathological aged bone. Methods: Proximal tibia was obtained from 3 cadavers with no clinical history of bone or joint pathology. The mean age was 88.3 years. Coronal sections were cut from the tibia and tissues were decalcified and processed for routine histology. Sections were either left unstained or stained with hematoxylin and eosin visualised using brightfield and polarized light microscopy as well as subject to autofluorescent examination. Numbers of excrescences were counted from each block of tissue and a map of their distribution plotted. Results: Standard histological examination showed excrescences present in all 3 cadaveric samples. The average number of excrescences seen in each section (~2cmx1cm) was 2.7 in the epiphyseal region, 0.2 in the metaphysis and 3.5 in the diaphysis. The excrescences demonstrated poor integration with the existing trabecular bone domain and many of the excrescences showed continuity with the reticular collagen network that branched through the marrow cavity. Despite poor integration with the existing network of trabeculae a number of excrescences showed mature lamellar bone structure when viewed under polarised light and some also contained osteocyte lacunae. The marrow cavity surface of the excrescences showed morphology that was analogous with adipocyte morphology; a small number of adipocytes were seen on these surfaces and engulfed within the reticular collagen network extending from the excrescences. P059 page 146-147 Bone Research Society Annual Meeting 29 June- 1 July 2016 Liverpool DOI: 10.3389/978-2-88919-974-7 ISBN: 978-2-88919-974-7 Published in Frontiers in Endocrinology | en_US |
