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Unravelling the Role of the Vasculature and Extracellular Matrix in Intramembranous Bone Development
Author(s) -
FranzOdendaal Tamara Anne,
Hammer Christine
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.31.1_supplement.902.5
Subject(s) - intramembranous ossification , endochondral ossification , anatomy , ossicles , extracellular matrix , biology , sclera , mesenchyme , microbiology and biotechnology , cartilage , middle ear , embryo , genetics
The relationship between bone development and the developing vasculature is well understood for endochondral bones but not for intramembranous bones. Intramembranous bones develop without a cartilage precursor from an aggregation of preosteogenic cells. Here we study, a series of intramembranous bones, known as the scleral ossicles, in order to unravel these relationships. The scleral ossicles are induced by specialised placodes of the conjunctival epithelium. We injected hydrocortisone into the developing embryo and observed the effect on the scleral bones and on the epithelial placodes. We show that there is a greater effect on the scleral bones than on the placodes, the structures that induce them. To further explore this effect, we next analysed the effect of the treatment on the developing scleral vasculature and scleral extracellular matrix. We show that both are affected indicating that vasculature and extracellular matrix within the sclera make a critical contribution to intramembranous bone development. This research provides important insights into understanding the role of the scleral mesenchyme in supporting scleral ossicle development and contributes to our understanding of sclerotic ring loss over vertebrate evolution. Support or Funding Information Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council, Canada