First, we could succeeded to reconstruct osteocyte network in bone using IMARIS, NEURON TRACER, SURPASS software. We informed the results in international journal "BONE" in 2005. Precise information is in the paper. Briefly, we measured osteocyte morphometry in chick calvaria and also showed morphological differences between osteocytes and osteoblasts. This technique was applied to visualize living osteocytes in bone by using OB7.3 chick osteocyte specific antibody. Now, we are in the way to visualize osteoblasts and osteocytes in living bone.
Besides the morphological differences between osteoblasts and osteocytes, we for the first time demonstrated significant difference between the cells in response to mechanical stress, especially in fluid shear stress. In the study, osteocytes were less respositive to fluid shear stress than osteoblasts. It was believed that osteocytes are the chief mechanosensory cells in bone.
However, in our knowledge based on the present study, osteocyte showed less calcium response than osteoblasts. In addition, we elucidated the implication of different focal adhesion formation between the cells.
Therefore, we now showed morphological and functional differences in osteocytes by the grant this time.