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First published online September 9, 2005
Journal of Experimental Biology 208, 3493-3502 (2005)
Published by The Company of Biologists 2005
doi: 10.1242/jeb.01808

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Adaptive bone formation in acellular vertebrae of sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax L.)

Sander Kranenbarg^1,*, Tim van Cleynenbreugel², Henk Schipper¹ and Johan van Leeuwen¹

¹ Experimental Zoology Group, Wageningen University, Marijkeweg 40, 6709 PG Wageningen, The Netherlands
² Division of Biomechanics and Engineering Design, K.U. Leuven, Celestijnenlaan 200A, 3001 Leuven, Belgium

^* Author for correspondence (e-mail: sander.kranenbarg{at}wur.nl)

Accepted 18 July 2005

Mammalian bone is an active tissue in which osteoblasts and osteoclasts balance bone mass. This process of adaptive modelling and remodelling is probably regulated by strain-sensing osteocytes. Bone of advanced teleosts is acellular yet, despite the lack of osteocytes, it is capable of an adaptive response to physical stimuli. Strenuous exercise is known to induce lordosis. Lordosis is a ventrad curvature of the vertebral column, and the affected vertebrae show an increase in bone formation.

The effects of lordosis on the strain distribution in sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax L.) vertebrae are assessed using finite element modelling. The response of the local tissue is analyzed spatially and ontogenetically in terms of bone volume.

Lordotic vertebrae show a significantly increased strain energy due to the increased load compared with normal vertebrae when loaded in compression. High strain regions are found in the vertebral centrum and parasagittal ridges. The increase in strain energy is attenuated by a change in architecture due to the increased bone formation. The increased bone formation is seen mainly at the articular surfaces of the vertebrae, although some extra bone is formed in the vertebral centrum.

Regions in which the highest strains are found do not spatially correlate with regions in which the most extensive bone apposition occurs in lordotic vertebrae of sea bass. Mammalian-like strain-regulated bone modelling is probably not the guiding mechanism in adaptive bone modelling of acellular sea bass vertebrae. Chondroidal ossification is found at the articular surfaces where it mediates a rapid adaptive response, potentially attenuating high stresses on the dorsal zygapophyses.

Key words: acellular bone, sea bass, Dicentrarchus labrax, vertebra, adaptive modelling, lordosis

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