Direct imaging of flow-induced oscillatory calcium rise in living bone

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Bone cells form a complex three-dimensional network consisting of osteoblasts and osteocytes embedded in a mineralized extracellular matrix. Ca^<2+> acts as a ubiquitous secondary messenger in various physiological cellular processes and transduces numerous signals to the cell interior and between cells. However, the intracellular Ca^<2+> dynamics of bone cells have not been evaluated in living bone. In the present study, we developed a novel ex-vivo live Ca^<2+> imaging system that allows the dynamic intracellular Ca^<2+> concentration([Ca^<2+>] i) responses of intact chick calvaria explants to be observed without damaging the bone network. Our live imaging analysis revealed for the first time that both osteoblasts and osteocytes display repetitive and autonomic[Ca^<2+>] i oscillations ex vivo.