Endocrine Abstracts

Osteocytes make up >90% of bone cells, are embedded in mineralised matrix where they form a communication network. Osteocytes differentiate from osteoblasts, and are thought to be mechano-sensitive. They are very difficult to isolate leading to a dependence on cell lines for in vitro studies of osteocyte biology. There is thus a need to develop new methods to study these cells. Recent publications indicate that osteoblasts maintained in in vitro 3D collagen g...