Fig. 4

Histomicrograph of a biopsy from the BC group, showing an aspect of newly formed bone. Section stained with picrosirius-hematoxylin and digitalized with bright-field (a) and linearly polarized light (b and c). b, c Results of near 45° section rotation (between axes B–B’ and C–C’) to compensate some of the orientation-related effects associated with linearly polarized light. In a, typical Haversian systems are showed (area observed above dotted line, a to a’). In b and c, the arrows indicate thin birefringent collagen bundle (appearing as bright lines) arranged around Haversian canals, suggestive of mature lamellar bone. The area observed below the dotted line is suggestive of immature (non-lamellar) bone, where collagen fibers undulations can be observed. The dark area corresponds to complete disorganization of the collagen fibers. Bar = 100 μm