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Evidence that Resorption of Bone by Rat Peritoneal Macrophages Occurs in an Acidic EnvironmentSkeletal loss in space, like any form of osteoporosis, reflects a relative imbalance of the activities of cells resorbing (degrading) or forming bone. Consequently, prevention of weightlessness induced bone loss may theoretically be accomplished by (1) stimulating bone formation or (2) inhibiting bone resorption. This approach, however, requires fundamental understanding of the mechanisms by which cells form or degrade bone, information not yet at hand. An issue central to bone resorption is the pH at which resorption takes place. The pH dependent spectral shift of a fluorescent dye (fluorescein isothiocyanate) conjugated to bone matrix was used to determine the pH at the resorptive cell bone matrix interface. Devitalized rat bone was used as the substrate, and rat peritoneal macrophages were used as the bone resorbing cells. The results suggest that bone resorption is the result of generation of an acidic microenvironment at the cell matrix junction.
Document ID
19850017787
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Blair, H. C.
(Washington Univ. Saint Louis, MO, United States)
Date Acquired
August 12, 2013
Publication Date
April 1, 1985
Publication Information
Publication: NASA. Washington NASA Space Biol. Program:
Subject Category
Life Sciences (General)
Accession Number
85N26098
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Work of the US Gov. Public Use Permitted.
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