Andreas Roschger

Contemporary elemental imaging techniques are greatly contributing into the bone research. Synchrotron radiation induced confocal micro x-ray fluorescence technique (SR-μXRF) was employed for the analysis, being the most powerful and sufficient tool in detection and characterization of trace element distributions in bone tissue. Manganese (Mn), as a potential contributor into the mechanisms of calcium incorporation into bone tissue is in the spotlight of research. Further it was demonstrated in studies of red deer antlers that mechanical competence of antler was associated with Mn content in antler material. Lower Mn content was found to result also in a lower work to peak force. Thus it is of important medical interest, if osteoporotic fractures are also correlated with Mn content. Red deer antlers were used as a suitable, easily accessible experimental model for the studies of bones. As antlers grow fast without undergoing remodelling, it is possible to observe the direct effect of dietary regimen and environmental conditions such as Mn uptake. As Mn to calcium (Ca) correlation might give more insight into pathogenetic mechanisms of osteoporosis, analysis of samples of human bone tissue (osteoporotic and non-osteoporotic) was performed. Human and animal bone samples were obtained in compliance with applicable ethical requirements. Elemental maps of Mn and Ca were obtained; the data were subsequently processed to gain the Mn to Ca countrate ratios, which allows comparing Mn spatial distribution in antlers and human bone samples. In antlers increased Mn content (200x) in the outer rim in contrast to adjacent bone tissue was observed. Human bone samples (transiliac bone biopsy samples) from male patients with idiopathic osteoporosis tend to contain less Mn globally in bone tissue as compared to healthy controls. In bone samples taken from femoral neck of osteoporotic women such difference in Mn content compared to controls could not be demonstrated.