A comparison of the structure, composition and mechanical properties of anosteocytic vertebrae of medaka (O. latipes) and osteocytic vertebrae of zebrafish (D. rerio). Issue 4 (19th April 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Ofer, Lior; Zaslansky, Paul; Shahar, Ron
• Other Names: Witten P. Eckhard guestEditor.; Huysseune Ann guestEditor.; Maisey John G. guestEditor.; Winkler Christoph guestEditor.; Gong Zhiyuan guestEditor.
• Is Part Of: Journal of fish biology. Volume 98:Issue 4(2021)
• Page Start: 995
• Page End: 1006
• Publication Date: 2020-04-19
• Subjects: bone structure -- caudal vertebrae -- medaka -- mechanical properties -- anosteocytic bone -- zebrafish; Fishes -- Periodicals; Fishes -- Great Britain -- Periodicals; 597
• DOI: 10.1111/jfb.14334
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0022-1112

Abstract

Abstract: Medaka ( O. latipes ) and zebrafish ( D. rerio ) are two teleost fish increasingly used as models to study human skeletal diseases. Although they are similar in size, swimming pattern and many other characteristics, these two species are very distant from an evolutionary point of view (by at least 100 million years). A prominent difference between the skeletons of medaka and zebrafish is the total absence of osteocytes in medaka (anosteocytic), while zebrafish bone contains numerous osteocytes (osteocytic). This fundamental difference suggests the possibility that the bony elements of their skeleton may be different in a variety of other aspects, structural, mechanical or both, particularly in heavily loaded bones like the vertebrae. Here we report on the results of a comparative study that aimed to determine the similarities and differences in medaka and zebrafish vertebrae in terms of their macro‐ to nanostructure, composition and mechanical properties. Our results reveal many similarities between medaka and zebrafish vertebrae, making the lack or presence of osteocytes the only major difference between the bones of these two species.