In vivo and in vitro systems to test osteogenic activities

At the molecular level, skeletal formation and homeostasis depends on the presence of specific cells and their differentiation, proliferation and function in skeletal tissues influences extracellular matrix (ECM) and hydroxyapatite deposition. Osteoblast- and chondroblast-like skeletal derived cells from teleosts will be used as experimental model systems to assess the effects of micronutrients, at the cellular level, on the capacity to mineralize the ECM