Influence of experimental dehydration on structural characteristics of bone mineral

Multilayer structure of bone tissue, the mineral bases of it is bioapatite, provides wide spectrum of mechanical and physiological properties. Water is also a significant component of bone matrix, which ensures relation between internal and external environment and transports nutrients from extracellular matrix to the cells. Violation of the water content and its ratio in extracellular and cellular sectors may change structure and function of the mineral component of bone. Thus, the aim of this research was to determine the structure of bioapatite in case of water imbalance. The experiment was conducted on laboratory rats, which modeled a heavy degree of water deficiency. X-Ray diffraction was applied to samples bioapatite pelvic bone, annealed at 200 °C and 900 °C. The research results demonstrate the high level of β-tricalciummagnesium- phosphate as bone mineral component in conditions of experimental dehydration, which formed after burning in 900 °C. It testifies a significant calcium deficiency in the original apatite. The relatively high level of microstrain in the mineral component of experimental group indicates the dominant role of heterovalent substitutions in the crystal lattice (Na⁺ or K⁺ → Ca²⁺) which is confirmed by lower content of magnesium in β-tricalcium-magnesium-phosphate after specimen's annealing in 900 °C.