Role of osteocytes in bone response to mechanical loading

Much interest has been generated in investigating what effect mechanical stimuli have on bone and bone remodeling. Most published reports are pointing towards the central role that osteocytes have in what is now known as a very dynamic and adaptive biological response. In 2003 a report was published concerning the development of a novel device (ZetOS(TM)) that enables the long-term culture of cancellous bone, with the application of specific and measureable mechanical loading and the precise measurement of the resultant strain. A number of reports published since then have demonstrated the applicability of this instrument in investigating the effects of mechanical stimuli and various other factors on discs of trabecular bone, in both human and bovine specimens. A review of this literature will be presented, in particular the parameters used during the experimentation, and where they stand with respect to the available knowledge on bone biomechanics and mechanotransduction properties. Currently, the second generation ZetOS device and joint development of a software package to automate many of its functions, is being evaluated as part of this Ph.D. Much of the initial work is geared towards optimising its use with both human and bovine trabecular bone. Some aspects of the new machine and software will be highlighted in this presentation. Some early results will also be presented. Finally, a list of the possible investigations that can be performed using this setup, based upon what has been presented above, will be discussed