Micro/Nanostructures and Mechanical Properties of Trabecular Bone in Ovariectomized Rats

Figure 4

Typical atomic force microscopic topography of trabeculae of rat vertebral bodies of sham operated rats (left panel) and ovariectomized rats (right panel). The top 2 images (a, b) show unindented surface and indented impression. The middle 2 images demonstrate rough surface with many nodules closely packed to each other in sham operation (c), and relatively smooth surface characterized by some loosely packed large nodular structures in ovariectomized rat (d). The woven collagen fibrils of trabeculae from different group of animals have different directions. The interfibrillar space between collagen fibrils of a sham operated rat is more compacted (e), while ovariectomy results in larger size composite of collagen and mineral crystals (f).

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