BONE MINERALIZATION AS STUDIED BY SMALL-ANGLE X-RAY-SCATTERING

Small-angle x-ray scattering (SAXS) can provide information on mean si ze, predominant orientation and typical shape of mineral crystals in b one, In this paper, recent developments of this technique for applicat ion in bone research are reviewed, Then the structure of the collagen/ mineral composite in bone, as determined by SAXS, is compared for a nu mber of species, The thickness of the mineral crystals was found to in crease with age up to a value around 3 to 4 nanometers in adult animal s, depending on the species, The SAXS results also suggest the existen ce of needle-shaped mineral crystals in mouse or rat bone and more pla te-shaped crystals in other tissues like adult human bone or mineraliz ed turkey leg tendon.