Neonatal Mouse Bone Development
Using this model and a specific gene knockout (PPR-KO) of the Parathyroid Hormone (PTH) Receptor, we have tested the effect of PTH on bone minerology, in which we can see differences at neonatal stages of bone development. We have detected differences in the composition of the bone based on the X-ray emissions from electron collisions with atoms.
This project is a collaboration between Alex Rubinacci of Milan Italy, Paola Diveti of Harvard Medical School, Mike Jercinovic of UMass Geosciences and Joe Kunkel of UMass Biology.
Bones were freeze substituted in acetone at -50°C. They were embedded in plastic and ground in oil to a level of interest with carborundum further polished in oil to a 0.25µ diamond level.
Electron back-scatter images were acquired with the Geosciences SX-50 Electron Microprobe providing essentially a SEM image of the polished bone surface. From focused electron bombardment at a micron level of resolution, X-rays are detected and analyzed to tell us the composition of the subject at that point in the sample.
Electron back-scatter images were acquired with the Geosciences SX-50 Electron Microprobe providing essentially a SEM image of the polished bone surface. From focused electron bombardment at a micron level of resolution, X-rays are detected and analyzed to tell us the composition of the subject at that point in the sample.
Biology Department Video
