Bone and cartilage stereology

Osteoarthritis is a disease associated with the degeneration of articular cartilage. Cartilage can be evaluated histomorphometrically by measuring parameters such as cartilage thickness, calcified cartilage area, and chondrocyte density. Osteoporosis is a bone disease characterized by decreased bone mass density and disordered organization of bone microstructural elements. Mineral density and measurement of bone mass are therefore important in the evaluation of osteoporosis. Stereological methods are frequently used in the histomorphometric examination of these tissues. These methods used in osteoporosis allow histomorphometric parameters such as bone volume and trabecular thickness to be determined. Stereological methods, which provide information about three-dimensional structure based on data obtained from two-dimensional sections, are repeatable in terms of involving unbiased measurements and yielding results close to real values. Stereological methods applied to sections of bone and cartilage tissue provide data concerning volume, surface area, and numerical density. The isector method, the Cavalieri method, and the optical disector/fractianotor methods are frequently applied stereological approaches in this context. Additionally, measurement can be performed using stereological methods applied to micrographs obtained from electron microscopic sections and to radiological images such as MRI and tomography. Quantitative evaluations are important in providing information about critical processes related to bone and cartilage damage. This chapter provides up-to-date information concerning the modification of stereological methods of examining bone and cartilage regeneration, along with current laboratory applications. Innovative applications of stereological methods may yield promising results regarding new treatment approaches related to bone and cartilage remodeling.