Electron-microscopic microprobe analysis on the initial stages of mineral formation in the epiphyseal growth plate

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Abstract
Dry thin sections (300–500 nm thick) of shock-frozen, freeze-dried and embedded epiphyseal growth plates from the proximal tibia of guinea pigs were cut longitudinally from the plate. Dark round bodies (øKα and PKα x-ray counts were directly compared with counts of fully mineralized regions, the Ca and P contents of which are known. Ca as well as P could be detected in the first visible vesicle-like structures (Ca∼0.2%, P∼0.4%) and increased steeply in the metaphyseal direction, amounting to approximately 6% Ca and 3% P. These results may lead to the conclusion that Pi becomes split from phosphate esters and transformed into the matrix vesicles already in a very early stage of enrichment. Incorporation of Ca may be coupled with this process.

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