Issues in modern bone histomorphometry

Abstract

This review reports on proceedings of a bone histomorphometry session conducted at the Fortieth International IBMS Sun Valley Skeletal Tissue Biology Workshop held on August 1, 2010. The session was prompted by recent technical problems encountered in conducting histomorphometry on bone biopsies from humans and animals treated with anti-remodeling agents such as bisphosphonates and RANKL antibodies. These agents reduce remodeling substantially, and thus cause problems in calculating bone remodeling dynamics using in vivo fluorochrome labeling. The tissue specimens often contain few or no fluorochrome labels, and thus create statistical and other problems in analyzing variables such as mineral apposition rates, mineralizing surface and bone formation rates. The conference attendees discussed these problems and their resolutions, and the proceedings reported here summarize their discussions and recommendations.

Fig. 1

Photomicrograph is displayed from a section 6 μm in thickness from one level of a transilial biopsy specimen. The internal and external cortices and the intervening trabecular region (~10× magnification) are apparent. Modified Goldner staining has been completed. Black lines delineate a typical standard analysis region with dimensions ~4 mm (horizontal) by 5.5 mm (vertical). Note that the transitional zone adjacent to each cortex is excluded by the vertical lines. Similarly, the periphery of the core that may include tissue damaged by the wall of the trephine is excluded by the horizontal lines. All trabecular tissue inside the lines is evaluated. Most microscope data (Table 1) are collected from a Goldner or similarly stained slide. A very similar analysis region from the unstained section is outlined and measured only for dL.Pm, sL.Pm, dL.N, sL.N, B.Pm, iL.Wi, and N.iL.Wi.