Image: Prognathodon tissue

Description: Fibrous tissues and microstructures recovered from IRSNB 1624. (A) Secondary electron micrograph of acid etched cortical bone showing fibrous tissues and what appears to be part of the osteocyte-lacunocanalicular system (osteocyte-like entities at arrows). (B) Osteocyte-like structure in lacuna within fibrous tissues. (C) Isolated osteocyte-like form visualized with fluorescent dye. (D) Topographic image of the same specimen as in C to illustrate the three-dimensional arrangement of the presumed cytoplasmic protrusions. (E, F) Light micrographs of fossil microstructures that are consistent in size and morphology to osteocytes or pericytes enfolding the outer surface of two vessel fragments. (G) Light micrograph of demineralized mosasaur bone tissues showing possible remains of the osteoid associated with vessel-like structures (C = cortex, M = medulla). (H) Light micrograph of an isolated fiber bundle. (I) TEM-image of demineralized mosasaur bone showing parallel-oriented fibrils. The spacing of the arrows indicates a 67 nm axial repeat D-banding pattern, which in modern bone is characteristic of collagen. (J) Transverse section (TEM-image) of a blood vessel from cortical bone of an extant monitor lizard humerus (LO 10298). Note the hair-like bone matrix fibers that are coiled around the canal wall. (K) Corresponding structures in the mosasaur humerus. (L) Histochemical staining of demineralized mosasaur bone suggesting the presence of connective tissue (blue) in the hair-like fibers that line a partially ruptured canal wall (the fracturing presumably occurred during the preparation of the sample). (M) Light micrograph (thin section) of untreated mosasaur bone showing fibers embedded in hydroxyapatite.
Title: Prognathodon tissue
Credit: http://www.plosone.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0019445
Author: Johan Lindgren1*, Per Uvdal2,3*, Anders Engdahl2, Andrew H. Lee4, Carl Alwmark1, Karl-Erik Bergquist5, Einar Nilsson5, Peter Ekström6, Magnus Rasmussen7, Desirée A. Douglas6¤, Michael J. Polcyn8, Louis L. Jacobs8
Usage Terms: Creative Commons Attribution 2.5
License: CC BY 2.5
License Link: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.5
Attribution Required?: Yes