Amount Of Bone Tissue Research Articles

Effect of ovariectomy in bone structure of mandibular condyle

To evaluate the bone structure of the mandibular condyle through an animal model, after ovariectomy. Thirty-six female Wistar rats were divided into 2 groups. The OVX group was submitted to bilateral ovariectomy, the SHAM group underwent the same surgical treatment, but without removal of the ovaries. After 90, 105 and 135 days after surgery, six animals from each group were submitted to euthanasia and the part containing the condyle was removed. The microscopic analysis shows an increase in marrow spaces over time in the OVX group. The morphometric study shows reduction in the amount of bone tissue in the OVX group 135 days period in comparison with for the initial period (90 days) (p <0.05, ANOVA, Tukey). The estrogen deficiency also affects the bone structure of the condyle.

Complex approaches to rehabilitation of patients with osteoporosis

Prophylaxis of bone fractures in patients with osteoporosis should not only consist of pharmaco-therapeutical intervention targeting to increase the bones strength, because improving bone tissue quantity does not affect the risk of falls. Additionally, physical factors could have an impact on bone mineral density (BMD). A complex of approache directed to modification of structure and strength of bone tissue together with decrease of falls risk in elderly patients with osteoporosis should become optimal. It’s very important that physical exercise programs developed for osteoporosis patients should include strength and power load exercises as well as flexibility an coordination and balance trainings. Special attention should be paid to the fact that a number of physical exercises are contraindicated as an excessive load can cause inadequate impact on the on the bones with compromised density.

A randomized controlled clinical study of periodontal tissue regeneration using an extracellular matrix-based resorbable membrane in combination with a collagenated bovine bone graft in intrabony defects.

PurposeThe purpose of this study was to investigate the feasibility of regenerative therapy with a collagenated bone graft and resorbable membrane in intrabony defects, and to evaluate the effects of the novel extracellular matrix (ECM)-based membrane clinically and radiologically.MethodsPeriodontal tissue regeneration procedure was performed using an ECM-based resorbable membrane in combination with a collagenated bovine bone graft in intrabony defects around the teeth and implants. A novel extracellular matrix membrane (NEM) and a widely-used membrane (WEM) were randomly applied to the test group and the control group, respectively. Cone-beam computed tomography images were obtained on the day of surgery and 6 months after the procedure. Alginate impressions were taken and plaster models were made 1 week and 6 months postoperatively.ResultsThe quantity of bone tissue, the dimensional changes of the surgically treated intrabony defects, and the changes in width and height below the grafted bone substitutes showed no significant difference between the test and control groups at the 6-month examination.ConclusionsThe use of NEM for periodontal regeneration with a collagenated bovine bone graft showed similar clinical and radiologic results to those obtained using WEM.

Biomechanical behaviour of a jawbone loaded with a prosthetic system supported by monophasic and biphasic implants.

Modern implantology is based on the use of endosseous dental implants and on the study of osseointegration processes. The loss of marginal bone around a dental implant can be caused by many factors; the proper distribution of the masticatory loads is important and is closely dependent on the quality and quantity of bone tissue surrounding the implant. In fact, bone has the ability to adapt its microstructure, through processes of resorption and neoformation of new bone matrix, as a result of the mechanical stimuli that are generated during the chewing cycles. The purpose of this article is to redefine in a modern key and in light of current industrial and engineering technology, clinical and biomechanical concepts that characterize the monophasic implants, in order to assess proper use by evaluating the biomechanical differences with the biphasic implants.

Characteristics of stem cells from human exfoliated deciduous teeth (SHED) from intact cryopreserved deciduous teeth

The aim of this study is to compare the characteristics of stem cells derived from human exfoliated deciduous teeth (SHED) from cryopreserved intact deciduous teeth with those of fresh SHED. In total, 20 exfoliated deciduous teeth were randomly divided into a fresh group (f-SHED; n = 11) and cryopreserved group (c-SHED; n = 9; stored for 1–8 months). Following thawing and separation of the pulp, the SHED cells were cultured, and the characteristics as mesenchymal stem cells were investigated using proliferation assays, cell-cycle analysis, colony-forming unit-fibroblast (CFU-F) assays, and flow cytometry analyses. Furthermore, differentiation into adipogenic and osteogenic lineages was investigated in vitro as well as in vivo via transplantation in mice. We found no significant differences between the two groups in the proliferation analyses, in the expression of mesenchymal stem cell markers, or in the adipogenic and osteogenic differentiation in vitro (p < 0.05). Furthermore, the in vivo transplantation results showed no significant differences in the quantity of bone tissue that formed or in histochemistry performance (p < 0.05). In conclusion, cryopreservation of intact exfoliated deciduous teeth appears to be a useful method for preserving SHED.

Surgical Management of Compound Odontoma Associated with Unerupted Tooth.

Odontomas represent the most common type of odontogenic benign jaws tumors among patients younger than 20 years of age. These tumors are composed of enamel, dentine, cementum, and pulp tissue. According to the World Health Organization classification, two distinct types of odontomas are acknowledged: complex and compound odontoma. In complex odontomas, all dental tissues are formed, but appeared without an organized structure. In compound odontomas, all dental tissues are arranged in numerous tooth-like structures known as denticles. Compound odontomas are often associated with impacted adjacent permanent teeth and their surgical removal represents the best therapeutic option. A case of a 20-year-old male patient with a compound odontoma-associated of impacted maxillary canine is presented. A minimally invasive surgical technique is adopted to remove the least amount of bone tissue as far as possible.

Considerations and Protocols in Virtual Surgical Planning of Reconstructive Surgery for More Accurate and Esthetic Neomandible with Deep Circumflex Iliac Artery Free Flap.

Purpose:The reconstruction of mandibular defects poses many difficulties due to the unique, complex shape of the mandible and the temporomandibular joints. With development of microvascular anastomosis, free tissue transplantation techniques, such as deep circumflex iliac artery (DCIA) flap and fibular free flap (FFF), were developed. The DCIA offers good quality and quantity of bone tissue for mandibular segmental defect and implant for dental rehabilitation. Virtual surgical planning (VSP) and stereolithography-guided osteotomy are currently successfully applied in three-dimensional mandibular reconstruction, but most use FFF. There are only a few articles on reconstruction with the DCIA that assess the postoperative results.Methods:Three patients admitted during a five month period (April of 2013 to August of 2013) underwent resection of mandible and DCIA musculo-osseous reconstruction using a VSP and stereolithographic modeling and assessment of outcomes included technical accuracy, esthetic contour, and functional outcomes.Results:This technique yielded iliac bone segment with excellent apposition and duplication of the preoperative plan. Flap survival was 100 percent and all patients maintained preoperative occlusion and contour.Conclusion:Based on our experience, we offer considerations and logically consistent protocols by classification of mandibular defects, and demonstrate the benefits in VSP and stereolithographic modeling of mandibular reconstructive surgery with DCIA flap.

The pH in the Microenvironment of Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells Is a Critical Factor for Optimal Osteogenesis in Tissue-Engineered Constructs

The present study aimed at elucidating the effect of local pH in the extracellular microenvironment of tissue-engineered (TE) constructs on bone cell functions pertinent to new tissue formation. To this aim, we evaluated the osteogenicity process associated with bone constructs prepared from human Bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (hBMSC) combined with 45S5 bioactive glass (BG), a material that induces alkalinization of the external medium. The pH measured in cell-containing BG constructs was around 8.0, that is, 0.5 U more alkaline than that in two other cell-containing materials (hydroxyapatite/tricalcium phosphate [HA/TCP] and coral) constructs tested. When implanted ectopically in mice, there was no de novo bone tissue in the BG cell-containing constructs, in contrast to results obtained with either HA/TCP or coral ceramics, which consistently promoted the formation of ectopic bone. In addition, the implanted 50:50 composites of both HA/TCP:BG and coral:BG constructs, which displayed a pH of around 7.8, promoted 20-30-fold less amount of bone tissue. Interestingly, hBMSC viability in BG constructs was not affected compared with the other two types of material constructs tested both in vitro and in vivo. Osteogenic differentiation (specifically, the alkaline phosphatase [ALP] activity and gene expression of RUNX2, ALP, and BSP) was not affected when hBMSC were maintained in moderate alkaline pH (≤7.90) external milieu in vitro, but was dramatically inhibited at higher pH values. The formation of mineralized nodules in the extracellular matrix of hBMSC was fully inhibited at alkaline (>7.54) pH values. Most importantly, there is a pH range (specifically, 7.9-8.27) at which hBMSC proliferation was not affected, but the osteogenic differentiation of these cells was inhibited. Altogether, these findings provided evidence that excessive alkalinization in the microenvironment of TE constructs (resulting, for example, from material degradation) affects adversely the osteogenic differentiation of osteoprogenitor cells.

Bone Quality: The Determinants of Bone Strength and Fragility

Bone fragility is a major health concern, as the increased risk of bone fractures has devastating outcomes in terms of mortality, decreased autonomy, and healthcare costs. Efforts made to address this problem have considerably increased our knowledge about the mechanisms that regulate bone formation and resorption. In particular, we now have a much better understanding of the cellular events that are triggered when bones are mechanically stimulated and how these events can lead to improvements in bone mass. Despite these findings at the molecular level, most exercise intervention studies reveal either no effects or only minor benefits of exercise programs in improving bone mineral density (BMD) in osteoporotic patients. Nevertheless, and despite that BMD is the gold standard for diagnosing osteoporosis, this measure is only able to provide insights regarding the quantity of bone tissue. In this article, we review the complex structure of bone tissue and highlight the concept that its mechanical strength stems from the interaction of several different features. We revisited the available data showing that bone mineralization degree, hydroxyapatite crystal size and heterogeneity, collagen properties, osteocyte density, trabecular and cortical microarchitecture, as well as whole bone geometry, are determinants of bone strength and that each one of these properties may independently contribute to the increased or decreased risk of fracture, even without meaningful changes in aBMD. Based on these findings, we emphasize that while osteoporosis (almost) always causes bone fragility, bone fragility is not always caused just by osteoporosis, as other important variables also play a major role in this etiology. Furthermore, the results of several studies showing compelling data that physical exercise has the potential to improve bone quality and to decrease fracture risk by influencing each one of these determinants are also reviewed. These findings have meaningful clinical repercussions as they emphasize the fact that, even without leading to improvements in BMD, exercise interventions in patients with osteoporosis may be beneficial by improving other determinants of bone strength.

Stable isotopes and body composition in children: History, fundamentals, and clinical applications

The aim of this study was to gather information on the use of stable isotopes to measure total body water and body composition scan in children. We selected studies in the last 13 years, in addition to classical studies on the subject, indexed in the database PubMed, LILACS, BVS and SciELO. The body composition was characterized by the amount of bone tissue, muscle and adipose tissue, also including the organs as well as levels of body water. Your knowledge becomes increasingly important in light of the changes that occur in the nutritional status of various types of diseases in frameworks, such as diabetes mellitus, protein energy malnutrition, in cases of obesity and metabolic syndrome. The ability to accurately assess body fat mass especially in children is associated with the importance of effective strategies for prevention and treatment of childhood obesity. Historically, in addition to clinical applications, measurements of total body water were used to determine body composition in nutritional studies. To the knowledge of the body composition, the body water can be measured and used by the ingestion of a dose of labeled water. The measured isotope enrichment is a function of the amount of body water. The method of deuterium is particularly interesting for the assessment of body composition in children, due to its characteristics of collection and analysis.

Adapted physical activity in the prevention and therapy of osteoporosis

Osteoporosis, a disease characterized by the progressive loss of bone tissue, is one of the most common complications of aging. According to some calculations, there were 25% of women and 4% of men older than 50 years with osteoporosis in the world in 2010. It is assumed that the number of patients with osteoporosis will increase by 30% in every 10 years in the 21st century. There are many reasons for that: the world's population is growing older, diet is getting poorer in vitamins and minerals and physical activity is decreasing. THE QUALITY AND QUANTITY OF BONE TISSUE: Developing bones are much more responsive to mechanical loading and physical activity than mature bones. This suggests that training in early childhood may be an important factor in the prevention of osteoporosis in later life. It is important to note that the quality of bone achieved by training at younger age cannot be maintained permanently if it is not supported by physical activity later in life. Adapted physical activity represents physical activity individually tailored according to the psychosomatic capabilities of a person and the goal to be achieved. It can be applied at any age in order to maintain strong bones and reduce the risk of fracture. Adapted physical activity is different for men and women, for different age, as well as for the individuals. Aerobic exercises, which lead to an acceleration of breathing, increased heart rate and mild perspiration, as well as resistance exercises and exercises against resistance done by stretching elastic bands, for hands, legs and torso have been proven to increase bone density and improve bone strength. Coordination and balance exercises are important in an individual workout program. An explanation of the action of adapted physical activity is the basis for the theory of control and modulation of bone loss, muscle strength, coordination and balance. Physical activity is very effective in reducing sclerostin, which is known to inhibit bone formation. In addition, physical training enhances the levels of insulinlike growth factor, which has a very positive effect on bone formation. The aim of adapted physical activity is to improve bone formation in youngsters, to preserve the bone mass in adults and to prevent the bone loss in the elderly thus reducing the risk of falls and resulting fractures; in other words, to minimize the disability caused by fractures and improve the quality of life.

Roles of Wnt/β-catenin signalling pathway in the bony repair of injured growth plate cartilage in young rats

Growth plate cartilage is responsible for longitudinal growth of the long bone in children, and its injury is often repaired by bony tissue, which can cause limb length discrepancy and/or bone angulation deformities. Whilst earlier studies with a rat growth plate injury repair model have identified inflammatory, mesenchymal infiltration, osteogenesis and remodeling responses, the molecular mechanisms involved in the bony repair remain unknown. Since our recent microarray study has strongly suggested involvement of Wnt–β-catenin signalling pathway in regulating the growth plate repair and the pathway is known to play a crucial role in the osteogenic differentiation of mesenchymal progenitor cells, the current study investigated the potential roles of Wnt–β-catenin signalling pathway in the bony repair of injured tibial growth plate in rats. Immunohistochemical analysis of the growth plate injury site revealed β-catenin immunopositive cells within the growth plate injury site. Treatment of the injured rats with the β-catenin inhibitor ICG-001 (oral gavage at 200mg/kg/day for 8days, commenced at day 2 post injury) enhanced COL2A1 gene expression (by qRT-PCR) and increased proportion of cartilage tissue (by histological analysis), but decreased level of osterix expression and amount of bone tissue, at the injury site by day 10 post-injury (n=8, P<0.01 compared to vehicle controls). Consistently, in vitro studies with bone marrow stromal cells from normal rats showed that β-catenin inhibitor ICG-001 dose dependently inhibited expression of Wnt target genes Cyclin D1 and survivin (P<0.01). At 25mM, ICG-001 suppressed osteogenic (by CFU-f-ALP assay) but enhanced chondrogenic (by pellet culture) differentiation. These results suggest that Wnt/β-catenin signalling pathway is involved in regulating growth plate injury repair by promoting osteoblastogenesis, and that intervention of this signalling could represent a potential approach in enhancing cartilage repair after growth plate injury.

Immunohistochemical analysis of matrix metalloproteinase-9, vascular endothelial growth factor, bone sialoprotein and i-nitric oxide synthase in calvaria vs. iliac crest bone grafts

The aim of this study was to investigate, in parallel to clinical and histological modifications, the expression of specific proteins involved in different extraoral autologous bone grafts integration in humans. Patients needing oral rehabilitation of posterior maxilla, with inadequate bone volume for implant placement, received bone grafts from calvaria (Group 1) and iliac crest (Group 2), respectively. From five patients from each group, with a total of 10 subjects, bone biopsy specimens were collected at two different experimental time points: at bone blocks withdrawal for grafting (T0), from donor sites, and after 4 months, from reconstructed sites. Samples were processed for light microscope and immunohistochemical analyses to evaluate MMP9, VEGF, BSP, iNOS expression. Morphological analysis of T0 calvaria evidenced areas of extracellular matrix, uniformly stained and organized in concentric mineralized lamellae edging few vascular canals, while T0 iliac crest showed greater cellularity compared to calvaria, with rare mineralized areas, surrounding wide bone marrow lacunae. In T1, Group 1 samples showed large areas of extracellular matrix, uniformly stained, at the same time as Group 2 samples disclosed few areas of mineralized tissue. Although no significant differences were found in proteins expression among calvaria and iliac crest T0 samples, MMP9, VEGF and BSP expression at T1 were discovered higher in Group 1 samples than in Group 2 ones, while iNOS expression increased in Group 2 samples compared to the others. In any group, molecules expression increased passing from T0 to T1. These findings suggested that, even though clinically both extraoral sources of autologous bone could be considered suitable for grafting in case of large oral rehabilitation, some differences might be detected microscopically and biologically. Calvaria bone graft seemed to enhance not only the quantity of bone tissue at the defect site, but also its quality, better than iliac crest bone do. Then, while both grafts appeared to promote a suitable neoangiogenesis, as showed by morphological analysis and by MMP9 and VEGF expression, in terms of new bone formation and lack of occurrence of inflammatory events, calvaria could be considered a more suitable donor site for bone grafts.

The influence of alendronate on osseointegration of nanotreated dental implants in New Zealand rabbits

Growing clinical demands for stronger and faster bone bonding to the implant have motivated the development of methods enhancing osseointegration. Lately, the application of bisphosphonates (bis) in order to optimize bone healing has become a topic of great interest. N-containing bis, such as alendronate (ALN), are the more potent drugs of this class. It was the aim of this study to determine the effect of ALN on the osseointegration of a well-documented nanotreated implant system in a rabbit femoral condyle model. Thirty-two adult female New Zealand White rabbits received one implant (3.25 mm in diameter and 10 mm in length) in their left femoral condyle, a week after they were ovariectomized. Half of them were saline treated (control, group A) and the other half were ALN treated (group B). Rabbits from both groups were euthanized after 6 and 12 weeks, respectively. The specimens were evaluated histologically and histomorphometrically. Upon histological evaluation, no obvious differences were found between the control and the treatment group. Implants showed good integration into the bone tissue surrounding them. There were also no statistically significant differences in bone-to-implant contact and the amount of bone tissue in the immediate neighborhood of the implant at both healing periods. The systemic administration of ALN was not found to affect histological osseointegration of implants in animals with a hormonal status resembling that of postmenopausal healthy women. Further research will be needed to investigate this approach.

Streamlining the generation of an osteogenic graft by 3D culture of unprocessed bone marrow on ceramic scaffolds

Mesenchymal stromal cells are present in very low numbers in the bone marrow, necessitating their selective expansion on tissue culture plastic prior to their use in tissue-engineering applications. MSC expansion is laborious, time consuming, unphysiological and not economical, thus calling for automated bioreactor-based strategies. We and others have shown that osteogenic grafts can be cultured in bioreactors by seeding either 2D-expanded cells or by direct seeding of the mononuclear fraction of bone marrow. To further streamline this protocol, we assessed in this study the possibility of seeding the cells onto porous calcium phosphate ceramics directly from unprocessed bone marrow. Using predetermined volumes of bone marrow from multiple human donors with different nucleated cell counts, we were able to grow a confluent cell sheath on the scaffold surface in 3 weeks. Cells of stromal, endothelial and haematopoietic origin were detected, in contrast to grafts grown from 2D expanded cells, where only stromal cells could be seen. Upon implantation in nude mice, similar quantities of bone tissue were generated as compared to that obtained by using the conventional number of culture expanded cells from the same donor. We conclude that human osteogenic grafts can be efficiently prepared by direct seeding of cells from unprocessed bone marrow.

In Vivo Characterization of Hyalonect, a Novel Biodegradable Surgical Mesh

Musculoskeletal reconstructive surgery often requires removal of significant quantities of bone tissue, such as the periosteum, causing critical problems following surgery like friction between different tissues and adhesion of soft tissues to the underlying bone. We studied the long-term host response and closure of large bone defects for periosteal reconstruction using Hyalonect, a novel membrane comprising knitted fibers of esterified hyaluronan, (HYAFF11). For biological characterization, 162 rats were used in a defect model in which a section of the dorsal muscular fascia was removed, and the membrane behavior observed over 540 d using conventional histology, with sham operated rats as controls. In addition, Hyalonect was used to cover defects made in the humeri of 7 dogs, filled with a variety of conventional bone filling compounds, and the regeneration process observed after 6 wks using histology. Low levels of inflammation were observed in the dorsal muscle fascia defect model, with cellular colonization of the mesh by 30 d, vascularization by 120 days, matrix fiber organization by 270 d, and the appearance of connective tissue identical to the surrounding tissue between 365 and 540 d, without the formation of fibrotic tissue. In addition, Hyalonect was shown to allow the regeneration of bone within the humeral defects whilst preventing fibrotic tissue in-growth, and allowing regeneration of tissue which, by 6 wk, had begun to resemble natural periosteal tissue. Hyalonect is suitable for improving the outcome of the final phases of orthopedic and trauma reconstructive surgical procedures, especially in the reconstruction of periosteal tissue.

Letters: Andrew Seidman, Clifford Hudis, and Eric Winer on the Point-Counterpoint on Dosing for Paclitaxel for Ovarian Cancer (11/25/09 issue); Letters: Simone's OncOpinion: 'Professional Professional Careers for ‘Old’ Guys (12/10/09 issue), by Leonard Zwelling MD; Letters: “Advances in Bone Biology Research Setting Stage for New Cancer Therapies” (11/25/09 issue), by W. Reid Pitts, Jr., MD

Letters: Andrew Seidman, Clifford Hudis, and Eric Winer on the Point-Counterpoint on Dosing for Paclitaxel for Ovarian Cancer (11/25/09 issue); Letters: Simone's OncOpinion: 'Professional Professional Careers for ‘Old’ Guys (12/10/09 issue), by Leonard Zwelling MD; Letters: “Advances in Bone Biology Research Setting Stage for New Cancer Therapies” (11/25/09 issue), by W. Reid Pitts, Jr., MD

Bone cells-biomaterials interactions

With the aging population, the incidence of bone defects due to fractures, tumors and infection will increase. Therefore, bone replacement will become an ever bigger and more costly problem. The current standard for bone replacement is autograft, because these transplants are osteoconductive and osteoinductive. However, harvesting an autograft requires additional surgery at the donor site that is related to high level of morbidity. In addition, the quantity of bone tissue that can be harvested is limited. These limitations have necessitated the pursuit of alternatives using biomaterials. The control of bone tissue cell adhesion to biomaterials is an important requirement for the successful incorporation of implants or the colonization of scaffolds for tissue repair. Controlling cells-biomaterials interactions appears of prime importance to influence subsequent biological processes such as cell proliferation and differentiation. Therefore, interactions of cells with biomaterials have been widely studied especially on two-dimensional systems. This review focuses on these interactions.

Guided Bone Augmentation around a Titanium Bone‐Anchored Hearing Aid Implant in Canine Calvarium: An Initial Comparison of Two Barrier Membranes

The placement of a bone-anchored hearing aid (BAHA) implant in young children may be hampered by the presence of thin, poor-quality calvarial bone. The use of extraskeletal guided skull bone augmentation around the titanium implant is one potential solution. To compare the effectiveness of a collagen membrane BioSISt (Cook Biotech Inc., Lafayette, IN, USA) and a PGA/PLA barrier membrane, Osseoquest (W.L. Gore & Associates, Flagstaff, AZ, USA) in promoting extraskeletal bone formation, when combined with cancellous bone graft, around a titanium implant in the canine calvarium. The quality and quantity of bone tissue was compared. A 4-mm titanium BAHA implant was placed in the cranial parietal bone of 11 dogs. The implant protruded from the bone surface by a measured distance. Two groups, each of three dogs, received an implant, cancellous bone graft, and either a BioSISt or Osseoquest membrane. Three dogs received implant and bone graft (positive controls), and two received an implant only (negative controls). Samples were retrieved at 3, 6, and 9 months after placement. Undecalcified histologic and histomorphometric assessments were made of the augmented bone thickness, and bone gain factors were calculated for each sample group. The process of osseointegration of the implants was ongoing and increased over time. Bone generation occurred with both test membranes and the early trabecular bone that formed, matured, and remodelled to compact bone at 9 months. BioSISt membrane samples showed superior quality and quantity of augmented bone compared with Osseoquest samples that exhibited thinner bone with persistent inflammation. Quantitatively, the BioSISt samples showed statistically greater new bone contact and bone area than both the positive and negative controls, whereas Osseoquest samples did not. The bone gain factor was statistically greater for BioSiSt samples when compared to the positive and negative controls whereas the Osseoquest samples were not. In this study, the collagen BioSISt membrane promoted bone formation of superior quality and quantity compared with the polyglycolic/polylactic acid-based Osseoquest membrane and positive and negative controls over 9 months. Further investigation of the use of the collagen BioSISt membrane for cranial bone augmentation is warranted.

The role of collagen in bone strength

Bone is a complex tissue of which the principal function is to resist mechanical forces and fractures. Bone strength depends not only on the quantity of bone tissue but also on the quality, which is characterized by the geometry and the shape of bones, the microarchitecture of the trabecular bones, the turnover, the mineral, and the collagen. Different determinants of bone quality are interrelated, especially the mineral and collagen, and analysis of their specific roles in bone strength is difficult. This review describes the interactions of type I collagen with the mineral and the contribution of the orientations of the collagen fibers when the bone is submitted to mechanical forces. Different processes of maturation of collagen occur in bone, which can result either from enzymatic or nonenzymatic processes. The enzymatic process involves activation of lysyl oxidase, which leads to the formation of immature and mature crosslinks that stabilize the collagen fibrils. Two type of nonenzymatic process are described in type I collagen: the formation of advanced glycation end products due to the accumulation of reducible sugars in bone tissue, and the process of racemization and isomerization in the telopeptide of the collagen. These modifications of collagen are age-related and may impair the mechanical properties of bone. To illustrate the role of the crosslinking process of collagen in bone strength, clinical disorders associated with bone collagen abnormalities and bone fragility, such as osteogenesis imperfecta and osteoporosis, are described.