Stress amplification during development of the tendon-to-bone attachment.

ABSTRACT: Mechanical stress is necessary to sustain the mineral content of bone in adults. However, in a developing neonatal mouse, the mineralization of soft tissues progresses despite greatly reduced average mechanical stresses. In adults, these reduced loads would likely lead to bone loss. Although biochemical factors may partly explain these different responses, it is unclear how mineralization is initiated in low load environments. We present here the effect of morphometric data and initial modeling supporting a hypothesis that mechanical factors across several length scales amplify stresses, and we suggest that these stresses are of a level adequate to contribute to mechanical signaling for initiation of mineralization at the developing tendon-to-bone enthesis. A mineral gradient is evident ac

SUBMITTER: Liu Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4074273 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature