Dense mineralized perivascular tubules in osteopetrotic bone.

Samples of osteopetrotic bone were deorganified and examined with the scanning electron microscope. Densely mineralized tubules with walls measuring from 1-10mu in width and with a luminal diameter of 70-90mu were observed scattered throughout the processed surface of the bone. Adjacent sections of bone prepared by routine histological methods for light microscopy showed that the tubules occur in areas of bone where "hyaline" structures are seen surrounding blood vessels. The tubules are not present in normal bone. The nature of these tubules and their possible significance in the pathological physiology of osteopetrosis requires further investigation.