A central analytic element of studies that examine skeletal tissue repair or regeneration is the histological and structural analysis of the skeletal tissues. Quantitative histological, histomorphometric, radiographic and biomechanical analyses are highly specialized procedures that are used in these types of research studies. Core B will provide a centralized facility for carrying out standardized tissue and organ level measurements of skeletal healing. A primary function of this core will also be to provide high-quality, standardized histological sections to each of the projects. Core B will function to ensure that standardized reproducible histomorphometric measurements are made to facilitate comparisons between projects. This core will also carry out standardized radiological and biomechanical assessments of biological tissues. The Core supports four separate components: 1) histology and standardization of histomorphometry; 2) technical assistance and oversight for the analysis of specific biological parameters including selective in situ hybridization and immunohistological assay of the spatial patterns of specific proteins and gene expression, measurements of apoptotic indices and measurements of neovasculature formation; 3) structural analysis measurements including radiology, dual energy x-ray absorptiometry analysis of skeletal tissue density and geometry, and biomechanical properties; and 4) collection and maintenance of documentation for all histomorphometric and structural assessments of the tissues as relatable outcome measurements for comparison to matched genomic data that are collected from the experiments of each project. All investigators in the program will utilize this core at almost equal levels and benefit from the technical assistance provided by the Core including quantitative histological, radiological, and mechanical assessments of skeletal healing, which all directly relate to the general processes of tissue healing.
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