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AKB: Biologische Physik
AKB 30: Biomaterials
AKB 30.3: Talk
Friday, March 4, 2005, 18:00–18:15, TU H2013
Bone Remodelling is regulated by a Mechanical Feedback Loop — •M. A. Hartmann1, R. Weinkamer1, Y. Brechet2, and P. Fratzl1,3 — 1MPI-KGF, Dept. Biomaterials, 14476 Potsdam-Golm, Germany — 2ENSEEG, LTPCM, 38402 Domaine Universitaire de St. Martin d’Heres, Cedex, France — 3LBIO, Hanusch Hospital and UKH-Meidling, Vienna, Austria
Biological processes can be regulated by a mechanical feedback loop, i.e. the mechanical loading is sensed by cells and this information is fed back to control the action of other cells. A prominent example is the (re)modelling of bone. Despite many years of intensive research many of the properties of this feedback still remain unclear: What exactly is the mechanical stimulus the cells are sensing? How do the cells respond to this stimulus (i.e. the remodel law)? How is the stimulus sensed by the cells? In [1] we proposed a model to study trabecular bone remodelling and ageing governed by mechanical feedback. Our approach is to study the effect of different remodel laws (like a continuous, linear vs. a discontinuous, step-like response) and its influences on bone histomorphometric parameters. Depending on the remodel law we found differences in bone volume fraction and the geometry of the bone structure. Comparing the simulation results to data from real bone, we try to draw indirect conclusions on the underlying feedback loop.
[1] Weinkamer et al., PRL, 2004