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Studies from University College in the area of acidosis published
December 18th, 2007
2007 DEC 18 -- According to recent research from London, the United Kingdom, "Dental disease due to osteoclast over-activity reaches epidemic proportions in older domestic cats and has also been reported in wild cats. Feline osteoclastic resorptive lesions (FORL) involve extensive resorption of the tooth leaving it liable to root fracture and subsequent tooth loss." "The aetio-pathogenesis of FORL is not known. Recent work has shown that systemic acidosis causes increased osteoclast activation and that loci of infection or inflammation in cat mouth are likely to be acidotic. To investigate this, we generated osteoclasts from cat blood and found that they formed in large numbers (similar to 400) in cultures on bovine cortical bone slices. Acidosis caused an increase in the size of cells-in cultures maintained up to 14 days at basal pH 7.25, mean osteoclast area was 0.01 +/- 0.003 mm 2, whereas an 8.6-fold increase was observed in cells cultured between 11 and 14 days at pH 7.15 (0.086 +/- 0.004 mm 2). Acidosis caused a modest increase in the number of osteoclasts. Exposure to pH 6.92 exhibited a 5-fold increase in the area of bone slices covered by resorption lacunae (similar to 70% bone slice resorbed). In line with this finding, significant increases were observed in the expression of cathepsin K and proton pump enzymes (both approximately 3-fold) that are key enzymes reflective of resorptive activity in osteoclasts," wrote M. Muzylak and colleagues, University College. The researchers concluded: "These results demonstrate that acidosis is a major regulator of osteoclast formation and functional activation in the cat, and suggest that local pH changes may play a significant role in the pathogenesis of FORL." Muzylak and colleagues published their study in the Journal of Cellular Physiology (The in vitro effect of pH on osteoclasts and bone resoription in the cat: Implications for the pathogenesis of FORL. Journal of Cellular Physiology, 2007;213(1):144-150). For additional information, contact M.A. Horton, University College London, Dept. of Medical, Bone & Mineral Center, 5 University St., London WC1E 6JJ, UK. Publisher contact information for the Journal of Cellular Physiology is: Wiley-Liss, Division John Wiley & Sons Inc., 111 River St., Hoboken, NJ 07030, USA. Keywords: United Kingdom, London, Acidosis, Bone, Cellular Physiology, Inflammation, Tooth Loss, University College. This article was prepared by Health Risk Factor Week editors from staff and other reports. Copyright 2007, Health Risk Factor Week via NewsRx.com.
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