Initial studies on the crystallinity of the mineral fraction and ash content of isolated human and bovine osteons differing in their degree of calcification.

Several groups containing 10--15 isolated osteons differing in their degree of maturity were analysed. Samples were isolated from undecalcified human and bovine bone sections. The crystallinity coefficient, defined as the ratio of the number of radiation-induced paramagnetic defects in the crystalline lattice of hydroxyapatite to the total ash content, was calculated. The results were compared with measurements performed on fragments of total cortical bone, primary periosteal bone, and inner circumferential lamellar bone. The results show a higher crystallinity of fully calcified osteons as compared with that found at the initial stage of calcification. No differences in the ash content were observed between human osteons, from different stages of calcification evaluated morphologically and by X-ray absorption. These differences were evident when bovine osteons differing in their stage of calcification were compared. Human fully calcified osteons contain 60% ash and their crystallinity coefficient is 52.1. Human osteons at the initial stage of calcification contain 57% ash and their crystallinity coefficient is 40.6. The same parameters for fully calcified bovine osteons and for bovine osteons at the initial stage of calcification are 59% ash, 62.6 crystallinity coefficient and 46% ash, 43.0 crystallinity coefficient, respectively.