Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Staining of demineralized cartilage

II. Quantitation of articular cartilage proteoglycan after fixation and rapid demineralization

  • Published:
Histochemistry Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Summary

Safranin O in the orthochromatic form stains articular cartilage proteoglycan quantitatively in histological sections of demineralized cartilage. This was shown by scanning microdensitometry of stained sections of undemineralized and demineralized articular cartilage and by biochemical analysis of 35S labelled cartilage subjected to demineralization. In constrast, Alcian Blue staining is affected by unknown factors other than simply the amount of proteoglycan present. Alcoholic formalin fixes articular cartilage proteoglycan more successfully than formol Zenker for subsequent rapid demineralization. Alcoholic formalin does not preserve cellular appearance as well as formol Zenker. Staining of articular cartilage with PAS appears unaffected by demineralization.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Dingle JT, Horsfield P, Fell HB, Barrat MEJ (1975) Breakdown of proteoglycan and collagen induced in pig articular cartilage in organ culture. Ann Rheum Dis 34:303–311

    Google Scholar 

  • Drury RAB, Wallington EA (1967) Carleton's histological technique. 4th ed. Oxford University Press, London

    Google Scholar 

  • Eggert FM, Germain JP (1979) Rapid demineralization in acidic buffers. Histochemistry 59:215–224

    Google Scholar 

  • Eggert FM, Linder JE, Jubb RW (1981) Staining of demineralized cartilage. I Alcoholic versus aqueous demineralization at neutral and acidic pH. Histochemistry 73:385–390

    Google Scholar 

  • Engfeldt B, Hjertquist S-O (1967) The effect of various fixatives on the preservation of acid glycosamino-glycans in tissues. Acta Pathol Microb Scand 71:219–232

    Google Scholar 

  • Fell HB (1975) Influence of the pericellular environment on the cells. Philos Trans R Soc Lond 271:324–342

    Google Scholar 

  • Goldstein DJ, Horobin RW (1974) Surface staining of cartilage by Alcian Blue, with reference to the role of microscopic dye aggregates in histological staining. Histochem J 6:175–184

    Google Scholar 

  • Jubb RW, Fell HB (1980) The effect of synovial tissue on the synthesis of proteoglycan by the articular cartilage of young pigs. Arthritis Rheum 23:545–555

    Google Scholar 

  • Lowry OH, Rosebrough NJ, Farr AK, Randall RJ (1951) Protein measurement with the Folin phenol reagent. J Biol Chem 193:265–275

    Google Scholar 

  • Morton HJ (1970) A summary of commercially available tissue culture media. In Vitro 6:89–108

    Google Scholar 

  • Rosenberg L (1971) Chemical basis for the histological use of Safranin O in the study of articular cartilage. J Bone Joint Surg 53A:69–82

    Google Scholar 

  • Simunek Z, Muir H (1972) Changes in the protein-polysaccharides of pig articular cartilage during prenatal development and old age. Biochem J 126:515–523

    Google Scholar 

  • Whiteman P (1973) The quantitative measurement of Alcian Blue-glycosaminoglycan complexes. Biochem J 131:343–350

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Author notes

  1. F. M. Eggert

    Present address: Department of Periodontology, Faculty of Dentistry, The University of Alberta, T6G 2N8, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Rheumatology, Westminster Hospital, SW1P 2AP, London, England

    R. W. Jubb

  2. Department of Oral Medicine and Periodontology, Dental School, The London Hospital, E1 2AD, London, England

    F. M. Eggert

Authors
  1. R. W. Jubb
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. F. M. Eggert
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Jubb, R.W., Eggert, F.M. Staining of demineralized cartilage. Histochemistry 73, 391–396 (1981). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00495654

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00495654

Keywords

Search

Navigation