LOADING OF CELLS AND A POSSIBLE UPPER LIMIT OF LOAD RESPONSE WITH RESPECT TO STRAIN-ENERGY DENSITY

A model has been established to examine the effects of mechanically lo ading bone on the ionic distribution in osteocytes. The ionic concentr ations are determined from the fluorescence of specific ionic indicato rs SPFI, PBFI, and SPQ. A deformation was induced in the calvariae of neonatal rats which were used as the experimental subjects. The ionic distribution was not uniform across the calvarial specimen, and with t he aid of finite element stress analysis we examined the distribution of strain energy density within the specimen. A similarity between the pattern of distribution of strain energy density and the potassium an d sodium ions was observed, whereas this was not the case with chlorid e ions. (C) 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.