The Physiology Core supports comprehensive, state-of-the-art physiological characterization of boneand other musculoskeletal tissues. The Core is comprised of 3 'subunits' which are coordinated by thedirector, Dr. Thomas Carpenter. The services of the Core are very heavily subscribed, and it is the largestof the three scientific cores.The Histology and Histomorphometry Subunit, which is co-supervised by Drs. Friedlaender andCarpenter, provides high quality histologic and histomorphometric analyses of skeletal tissue. Recentinitiatives have included the development of an in situ TUNEL assay, and new immunohistochemicalstains in response to the needs of specific investigators. A recent external audit of the subuint by Dr.David Ke, a nationally recognized expert in rodent histomorphometry, concluded that the services beingprovided are of extremely high quality.Dr. Caren Gundberg, an internationally recognized expert in the field, supervises the BiochemicalMarkers of Bone Turnover Subunit. This subunit offers assays of bone turnover makers and serumPTH. Assays for media osteocalcin, calcium, phosphate, and alkaline phosphatase, in mineralizing bonecell cultures are new initiatives in the laboratory.The Bone Densitometry Subunit supports measurement of bone density by peripheral quantitativecomputerized tomography (pQCT) and by dual energy absorptiometry (PlXlmus) through an agreementwith the Cell Core.
The specific aims of the Core are to: 1) continue to provide the above summarized services to Centermembers in a coordinated and efficient manner, thereby extending the range and productivity of theirwork; 2) to offer training in these techniques to Center members and 3) to continue to develop andevaluate new methodologies relevant to the analysis of skeletal tissue in vivo and in vitro.
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