The Two Faces of Resorption 



L. F. Belanger, T. Semba ''', S. Tolnai 



Department of Histology and Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, 

 Ottawa, Canada 



D. H. Copp 



Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, 

 Vancouver, B. C, Canada 



L. Krook, C. Gries 



Department of Pathology and Bacteriology, New York State Veterinary College, 

 Ithaca, N. Y., U. S. A. 



1. Development of the concept of osteolysis 



Recent reviews and textbooks state that "the osteoclast is the agent of bone 

 destruction" (Lacroix, 1961), that this cell is "actively involved in some way in the 

 resorption of bone" (Hancox and Boothroyd, 1963) or else that there is "much 

 interesting controversy about the origin, the nature and the function of these cells" 

 (Ham and Leeson, 1961) and that "indeed, the process of bone resorption is not 

 understood as thoroughly as we might wish" (Ham and Leeson, 1961). "On the other 

 hand, resorption may take place in the absence of osteoclasts for instance in the 

 so-called creeping replacement in bone transplants" (Copenhaver, 1964). 



The concept of non-osteoclastic resorption has been itself, "creeping" through the 

 years, towards the home of the bone investigator; perhaps this meeting will be the 

 occasion when it will find its way inside . . . 



The idea of "remodeling absorption" from within, proposed by John Hunter 

 towards the end of the 18th century (Home, 1800) might have been an early step in 

 this direction. After cauterization of portions of bone. Hunter reported that "the 

 earthy part of the living bone in contact with the dead portion, was first absorbed". 

 Living cells within the bone were apparently needed for this process. 



Much later several investigators were attracted by changes in the staining proper- 

 ties of the organic matrix in relation with interstitial loss of substance. These were 

 manifested by basophilia (Zawisch-Ossenitz, 1927; Kind, 1951; Ruth, 1954, 1961) 

 or by intensified staining for mucopolysaccharides (Heller-Steinberg, 1951; Engel, 

 1952;Gaillard, 1955 a, b). 



Changes in the appearance of the osteocytes and also in the size and shape of 

 lacunae and canaliculi were observed by von Recklinghausen (1910) (oncosis), 



* Post-Doctorate Fellow of the Medical Research Council of Canada. 



3'''^ Europ. Symp. on Cal. Tissues \ 



