Our bone scanning laboratory is situated in the Mellanby Centre, alongside the bone biochemistry laboratory. Here, our experienced hitologist performs microCT scans of bone samples and dynamic histomorphometry.
Our funding has allowed us to equip this lab with a Skyscan 1172, a microCT machine with a 10 mega pixel camera capable of detecting 500 high resolution x-ray images as the bone specimen is rotated through 360 degrees. Using dedicated software, the images produced can be used to study high levels of detail such as trabecular number, thickness and volume, cortical thickness and volume and a number of bone densitometry measurements. These images can then be reconstructed to form 3D models. This allows us to study bone formation rates in some of our anabolic drug treatment studies.
We have also purchased a Leica RM2265 microtome, which can cut 
resin-embedded undecalcified bone, allowing the study of fluorescent labels incorporated into the bone as it is mineralised. These green and red fluorescent labels are incorporated pre- and post-treatment, allowing us to assess the extent of new bone growth. We are currently working on parallel mouse models, to validate these techniques and allow them to be used in preclinical studies of anabolic agents.
We can study bone microarchitecture in cellular detail using specially stained sections. For example, the Von Kossa stain shows areas of mineralisation in black. Histomorphometry is used to provide data on the cellular structure, bone components and growth rates.
