AUTHOR=Tomlinson Ryan E. , Christiansen Blaine A. , Giannone Adrienne A. , Genetos Damian C. 

TITLE=The Role of Nerves in Skeletal Development, Adaptation, and Aging

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Endocrinology

VOLUME=Volume 11 - 2020

YEAR=2020

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/endocrinology/articles/10.3389/fendo.2020.00646

DOI=10.3389/fendo.2020.00646

ISSN=1664-2392

ABSTRACT=The skeleton is well innervated, but only recently have the functions of this complex network started to become known. Although our knowledge of skeletal sensory and sympathetic innervation, including the location and subtypes of nerves in bone, is incomplete, we are now able to reconcile early studies utilizing denervation models with recent work dissecting the molecular signaling between bone and nerve. In total, sensory innervation functions in bone much as it does elsewhere in the body – to sense and respond to mechanical stimuli. Similarly, sympathetic nerves regulate autonomic functions related to bone, including homeostatic remodeling and vascular tone. However, more study is required to translate our current knowledge of bone-nerve crosstalk to novel therapeutic strategies to combat skeletal diseases and disorders of low bone mass, including aging.