Mineralization in the chick embryo. I. Monohydrogen phosphate and carbonate relationships during maturation of the bone crystal complex.

Abstract

The chemical and physical maturation of the bone salt was studied by serial observations on its stoichiometric and infrared characteristics in avian bone from early embryonic mineral deposition to full maturity after hatching. The sequence of chemical transformations in the developing bone showed most predominantly an inverse relationship between acid phosphate and carbonate, coincident with the formation of CO3-apatite. The data are consistent with the view that CO32− is substituted for HPO42− in the synthesis of CO3-apatite in bone.