The Role of β-Antagonists on the Structure of Human Bone - A Spectroscopic Study

Abstract

Human bones are inherently complex materials consisting of minerals, collagen, water, noncollagenous proteins, lipids, vascular elements and cells. The bone is a physiologically active and reactive tissue (Petra et al., 2005). Through hormonal or mechanical signals the osteoblasts and osteoclasts are forming the bones. It is known that the role of osteoblasts is to create a collagen-rich extracellular matrix, which will become mineralized (bone formation) with calcium. On the other hand, the main role of osteoclasts is to degrade calcified bone tissue (resorption) (Shier et al., 1996). In the bone microenvironment, there is a dynamic balance between resorption and formation that maintains skeletal homeostasis. This process between bone formation and bone resorption is called remodelling. Bone remodelling and bone loss, is in function of age, external mechanical loads originating from physical activity and diseases.