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Quantitative analysis of osteocyte network and lacunocanalicular system in aging bone
Osteocytes are known to regulate bone mass with aging due to their central role in mechanotransduction and the expression of important molecular markers to orchestrate the bone remodeling process. Because osteocytes are not easily accessible as they are embedded within a deep mineralized matrix, therefore our understanding of bone remodeling with aging is incomplete. In this project, we investigate the changes in the osteocyte networks with aging by investigating the morphology of the lacunocanalicular network (LCN) through histological staining, confocal imaging and image analysis tools.
Osteoporosis is the result of deregulated bone remodeling, where osteocyte system is raising increasing interest since it is hypothesized to have an important role in bone adaptation with aging. The latter reside within voids called lacunae and connect through dendritic processes located in tunnels called canaliculi. The morphology of the thus formed lacunar-canalicular network (LCN) is believed to reduce with aging. Hence, a better investigation of the morphology of the LCN would lead to a better understanding of the aging osteocyte network at the cellular level.
Osteoporosis is the result of deregulated bone remodeling, where osteocyte system is raising increasing interest since it is hypothesized to have an important role in bone adaptation with aging. The latter reside within voids called lacunae and connect through dendritic processes located in tunnels called canaliculi. The morphology of the thus formed lacunar-canalicular network (LCN) is believed to reduce with aging. Hence, a better investigation of the morphology of the LCN would lead to a better understanding of the aging osteocyte network at the cellular level.
The goal of this research project:
1) Quantitative and structural analysis of osteocyte lacunae in the cortical bone
2) Finite element model generation of 3D model of osteocytes
What we expect
- Strong interest in quantitative image and data analysis
- Well-experienced programming skills in Python, MATLAB etc.,
Tasks: 85% data/image analysis-, 15% report & presentation
The goal of this research project: 1) Quantitative and structural analysis of osteocyte lacunae in the cortical bone 2) Finite element model generation of 3D model of osteocytes
What we expect - Strong interest in quantitative image and data analysis - Well-experienced programming skills in Python, MATLAB etc.,
