Bone Toxicology

Abstract

This chapter is divided into three subsections: The bone biology part will provide some insight into the matrix composition as well as the origin and basic function attributed to the cellular components, the osteoblasts osteocytes and osteoclasts. In the second section, the interplay between these matrix components and the cells will be discussed in the context of skeletal growth, skeletal adaptation (modeling), and skeletal maintenance (bone remodeling). Finally, the third section will address similarities and differences in bone biology between human, nonhuman primate, rat, and mouse, the most commonly used species in the study of bone metabolic disorders. Other large animals like dogs, sheep, mini-pigs, or rabbits which are being successfully used to study orthopedic conditions (implant ingrowth, fracture healing, and bone augmentation) have not been addressed in this chapter.