Structural alterations in osteocyte dendrites and lacunar‐canalicular networks of the mandible of ovariectomized mice

After menopause, many women develop osteoporosis-a condition where bones become weak and break easily. This not only affects bones such as the spine or hips but also damages the jawbone, making dental treatments harder. We wanted to understand how osteoporosis weakens the jawbone by studying tiny bone cells called osteocytes, which act like "messengers" controlling bone health. Using advanced microscopy and special staining techniques, we mapped communication networks between osteocytes in the jawbone (like tracing telephone wires between cells). We then compared bone structures between healthy mice and mice with osteoporosis after ovary removal. Osteoporosis damaged the "wires" (dendrites) connecting osteocytes, reducing their ability to share nutrients and signals. It also widened tunnels (canaliculi) around osteocytes-like potholes in roads-disrupting their links to blood vessels and neighboring cells. These changes likely occur because osteoporosis impairs the bone's self-repair system around these tunnels. Our discovery that osteoporosis breaks bone cell networks reveals a new mechanism for jawbone weakening, paving the way for better dental treatments, protective drugs, and patient education.