Bloebaum R D, Skedros J G, Vajda E G, Bachus K N, Constantz B R
Bone and Joint Research Laboratory, Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Salt Lake City, UT 84148, USA.
Bone. 1997 May;20(5):485-90. doi: 10.1016/s8756-3282(97)00015-x.
The mechanical properties of bones are greatly influenced by the ratio of organic constituents to mineral. Determination of bone mineral content on a macroscopic scale is straightforward, but microscopic variations, which can yield new insights into remodelling activities, mechanical strength, and integrity, are profoundly more difficult to measure. Measurement of microscopic mineral content variations in bone material has traditionally been performed using microradiography. Backscattered electron (BSE) imaging is a technique with significantly better resolution than microradiography with demonstrated consistency, and it does not suffer from projection-effect errors. We report results demonstrating the applicability of quantitative BSE imaging as a tool for measuring microscopic mineral content variations in bones representing a broad range of mineralization. Bones from ten species were analyzed with Fourier-transformed infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry, ash measurements, and BSE imaging. BSE image intensity (graylevel) had a very strong positive correlation to mineral (ash) content. Compositional and crystallographic variations among bones had negligible influence on backscattered electron graylevels. The present study confirms the use of BSE imaging as a tool to measure the microscopic mineral variability in a broad range of mineralized tissues.
骨骼的力学性能受有机成分与矿物质比例的影响很大。在宏观尺度上测定骨矿物质含量很简单，但微观变化却更难测量，而这些微观变化能为重塑活动、机械强度和完整性提供新的见解。传统上，使用显微放射照相术来测量骨材料中微观矿物质含量的变化。背散射电子（BSE）成像技术的分辨率明显高于显微放射照相术，且具有一致性，并且不存在投影效应误差。我们报告的结果表明，定量BSE成像作为一种测量代表广泛矿化程度的骨骼微观矿物质含量变化的工具是适用的。对来自十个物种的骨骼进行了傅里叶变换红外光谱、X射线衍射、能量色散X射线光谱、灰分测量和BSE成像分析。BSE图像强度（灰度级）与矿物质（灰分）含量呈非常强的正相关。骨骼之间的成分和晶体学变化对背散射电子灰度级的影响可忽略不计。本研究证实了BSE成像可作为一种测量广泛矿化组织中微观矿物质变异性的工具。
