178 D. B. Morgan, C. R. Paterson, C. G. Woods, C. N. Pulvfrtaft, P. Fourman 



not been described before. It may be of interest, however, that Sheldon and Robinson 

 (1961), using the electron-microscope, found in osteoid from rachitic rats an ab- 

 normal, random orientation of the collagen fibrils surrounding osteocytes. 



The causal relationship between the matrix lesion and the concurrent lack of 

 bone mineral can only be speculated upon. As has been mentioned before (Engfeldt 

 et al., 1956; Jowsey et ai, 1964), it is not known whether the lack of mineral in the 

 immediate vicinity of osteocytes is the result of a failure of mineralisation or of 

 removal of mineral from calcified tissue. It is conceivable that a structural change of 

 the matrix is involved in either of these processes. 



Recently one of the authors pointed out that osteocytes probably are capable of 

 controlling the composition of the adjacent tissue in terms of mineral and matrix 

 (Jowsey et al., 1964). The peculiar localisation of the lesion — predominantly on one 

 side of the lacunae — indicates that, at least under certain circumstances, the effect 

 of this controlling capacity is not evenly distributed. The significance of this finding 

 as regards osteocyte metabolism is not known at present. 



Summary 



By histological examination of decalcified bone from patients with vitamin D- 

 resistant rickets it was found that the bone matrix in perilacunar regions, which were 

 characterised by a subnormal degree of mineralisation, had an abnormal affinity for 

 certain stains, in particular for azure II — picric acid. These findings are discussed. 

 It is pointed out that the observed abnormality probably is structural rather than 

 chemical in nature. 



References 



DuYN, P. van: Acrolein-Schiff, a new staining method for proteins. J. Histochem. Cytochem. 



9, 234 (1961). 

 Engfeldt, B., R. Zetterstrom, and J. Winberg: Primary vitamin D-resIstant rickets III; 



Biophysical studies of skeletal tissue. J. Bone Jt Surg. 38 A, 1323 (1956). 

 Jowsey, J.: Variations In bone mineralization with age and disease. In Bone Blodynamics. 



Frost, H. M. (ed.). Boston: Little, Brown 1964, p. 461. 

 — , B. L. Riggs, and P. J. Kelly: Mineral metabolism in osteocytes. Proc. Mayo Clinic 39, 



480, (1964). 

 Sheldon, H., and R. A. Robinson: Studies In rickets I; The fine structure of uncalclfied 



bone matrix in experimental rickets. Z. Zellforsch. 53, 671 (1961). 



Therapeutic Response and Effect on the Kidney of 100 Units 

 Vitamin D Daily in Osteomalacia after Gastrectomy 



D. B. Morgan, C. R. Paterson, C. G. Woods, C. N. Pulvertaft, P. Fourman 



Departments of Chemical Pathology and Pathology, Leeds University Medical School; 

 and the York County Hospital, England 



The Peptic Ulcer Clinic in York follows 1443 persons who have had an operation 

 for ulcer during the last 22 years. To establish the prevalence of osteomalacia after 

 gastrectomy we have surveyed 1228 of these persons. Patients with osteomalacia were 

 given a minute dose of vitamin D. 



