Microchemical investigation of bone derived from mice treated with strontium in different chemical forms using scanning electron microscopy and micro-Raman spectroscopy

► SEM/EDX and micro-Raman were used to investigate bone structure of mice fed with two forms of strontium - chloride and ranelate. ► Line scans performed perpendicular to a bone axis revealed profiles of element distributions and molecular structure variations. ► EDX showed distribution of 13 elements. Ca and P are correlated with a porous structure of bones; strontium is accumulated close to bone edges. ► Micro-Raman measurements revealed Raman band at 811 cm-1, randomly observed for blanks or low Sr level, regularly for high Sr level. ► Raman band at 811 cm-1 initially assigned to osteonectin.