The Spatial Distribution of Cellular Voids in the Human Otic Capsule: An Unbiased Quantification of Osteocyte-Depleted Areas

Hansen, Lars Juul; Bloch, Sune Land; Sørensen, Mads Sølvsten

doi:10.1097/mao.0000000000003626

Cited by 2 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 26 publications

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“…Furthermore, it has been proposed that OPG induced inhibition of remodeling close to the inner ear spaces preserves the electro-mechanical integrity of the inner ear. The high concentrations of osteocytes and their canaliculi result from the persistence of hypercellular fetal primary bone in this compartment [ 25 , 50 ]. So when cells die and pericellular maintenance is stopped, the lacunae and canaliculi calcify and seal off apoptotic contents [ 51 , 52 ], the high content of lacunae and canaliculi in bone close to the otic chamber may lead to higher preservation of endogenous DNA.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The petrous bone contains high concentrations of osteocytes: One possible reason why ancient DNA is better preserved in this bone

Ibrahim

Brumfeld²,

Addadi³

et al. 2022

PLoS ONE

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The characterization of ancient DNA in fossil bones is providing invaluable information on the genetics of past human and other animal populations. These studies have been aided enormously by the discovery that ancient DNA is relatively well preserved in the petrous bone compared to most other bones. The reasons for this better preservation are however not well understood. Here we examine the hypothesis that one reason for better DNA preservation in the petrous bone is that fresh petrous bone contains more DNA than other bones. We therefore determined the concentrations of osteocyte cells occluded inside lacunae within the petrous bone and compared these concentrations to other bones from the domestic pig using high resolution microCT. We show that the concentrations of osteocyte lacunae in the inner layer of the pig petrous bone adjacent to the otic chamber are about three times higher (around 95,000 lacunae per mm3) than in the mastoid of the temporal bone (around 28,000 lacunae per mm3), as well as the cortical bone of the femur (around 27,000 lacunae per mm3). The sizes and shapes of the lacuna in the inner layer of the petrous bone are similar to those in the femur. We also show that the pig petrous bone lacunae do contain osteocytes using a histological stain for DNA. We therefore confirm and significantly expand upon previous observations of osteocytic lacuna concentrations in the petrous bone, supporting the notion that one possible reason for better preservation of ancient DNA in the petrous bone is that this bone initially contains at least three times more DNA than other bones. Thus during diagenesis more DNA is likely to be preserved in the petrous bone compared to other bones.

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