2007 Annual Report 1a.Objectives (from AD-416) Enhance the quality of life through establishing mineral intakes that support optimal bone and joint health. Specifically, to confirm that boron is bioactive in osteogenesis and thus promotes bone growth and remodeling; and to establish dietary recommendations for boron that promote bone repair and maintains bone health. 1b.Approach (from AD-416) Studies will use a mouse model of bone repair after injury. Mice will be fed boron-deficient and adequate diets. After about 5 weeks, surgical procedures will be performed for the purpose of evaluating peri-implant bone healing of the tibia and mandibular bone remodeling upon tooth extraction. Thirty days after the surgical procedures, the tibias and mandibles will be collected for histologic and histomorphometric examination. Tissues and plasma will be collected for the determination of indicators of bone formation and remodeling. 3.Progress Report This report serves to document research conducted under a non-funded cooperative agreement between ARS and the National University of Salta, Argentina. Additional details of research can be found in the report for the parent project 5450-51000-039-00D Mineral Intakes for Optimal Bone Development and Health. The purpose of this research is to determine whether boron is bioactive in bone formation and thus promotes bone growth and remodeling. A research report has been prepared and will be submitted to Anatomical Record showing that boron deprivation compared to nutritional intakes of boron resulted in impaired alveolar bone healing after tooth extraction in rats because of reduced osteogenesis (bone formation). Another research report has been prepared and will be submitted to the Journal of Periodontal Research showing that boron deprivation impairs alveolar bone formation in rats. This research has also showed that boron deprivation decreased long bone stiffness in mice. The findings indicated that boron is required for optimal osteoblast activity (bone forming cells), and thus boron is needed for bone formation and strength, and low boron status impairs bone healing after injury. The ADODR monitored activities in this cooperative agreement through email and through personal contact at a scientific meeting.