11. Sclerostin is produced by the osteocyte and has anti-anabolic effects on bone formation. 12. Stimulation of osteocyte apoptosis by alcohol exposure may explain decreased bone mineral density in chronic drinkers. 13. Thus again, cementum is more similar to alveolar bone, with its osteoblasts becoming entrapped osteocytes . 14. It is also known that osteocytes can secrete growth factors which activate lining cells or stimulate osteoblasts. 15. In the skeleton, the osteocyte is a stellate cell, embedded within the bone matrix itself. 16. These canaliculi provide the nutrients needed for the newly transformed osteoblasts, which are now called osteocytes . 17. Materials picked up by osteocytes adjacent to blood vessels are distributed throughout the bone matrix via the canaliculi. 18. "' Osteocytes "'are osteoblasts which have become trapped inside of the bone matrix. 19. Osteocytes develop long branches which allow them to contact each other and also contact the bone lining cells.20. RANKL is a cytokine that remains on the surface of osteoblasts, osteocytes , and bone lining cells.
