Biomedical Engineering and Bioengineering Commons^™

Collagen Fibres Are Not Required For Initial Matrix Mineralization By Bone Cells, M. M. Hosseini, S. A. F. Peel, J. E. Davies

Cells and Materials

Passaged primary cultures of young adult rat bone marrow cells were maintained in medium containing combinations of the supplements dexamethasone, ascorbic acid and Na-ß-glycerophosphate. The cultures were examined by both light and scanning electron microscopy (with additional energy dispersive X-ray analysis). In cultures with fully supplemented medium, an extracellular matrix formed at the culture dish surface, beneath developing bone nodules; this matrix was mineralized but collagen-fibre free and corresponded to that which we have reported previously as the equivalent of the cement line in vivo. In selected samples this interfacial, cement line, matrix was analyzed by X-ray …