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Lookup NU author(s): Dr Christine Berger, Dr Ben Horrocks, Dr Harish Datta
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In this work we apply calcium ion-selective liquid membrane microelectrodes to the investigation of the release of ionized calcium in real-time from bovine cortical bone slices in the presence of osteoclasts. The osteoclast is the cell responsible for the resorption (dissolution) of bone and excess bone resorption is implicated in diseases such as osteoporosis. Pretreatment of the bone slice with dilute solutions of ammonium fluoride was found to result in greater resistance to osteoclastic resorption. However, a detectable calcium flux was still observed indicating that the cells were able to attach to the fluoride treated bone and carry out resorption. These data were confirmed by scanning electron microscopy which indicated that the number of bone resorption pits was not affected by the fluoride treatment, although the excavated area was markedly decreased in the presence of fluoride. The results of these studies indicate that the use of calcium-selective microelectrodes provide a feasible alternative assay of osteoclast activity to the conventional electron microscopic assay. The microelectrode technique enables real-time data to be obtained, whereas the conventional method requires a long (ca. 16-20 h) incubation of the cells on the bone slice.
Author(s): Berger CEM, Horrocks BR, Datta HK
Publication type: Article
Publication status: Published
Journal: Electrochimica Acta
Year: 1999
Volume: 44
Issue: 16
Pages: 2677-2683
Print publication date: 01/04/1999
ISSN (print): 0013-4686
ISSN (electronic): 1873-3859
Publisher: Pergamon
URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0013-4686(98)00366-1
DOI: 10.1016/S0013-4686(98)00366-1
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