Skip to main content

Whole-Mount Skeletal Staining

  • Protocol
Book cover Skeletal Development and Repair

Part of the book series: Methods in Molecular Biology ((MIMB,volume 1130))

Abstract

The first step in almost every investigation of skeletal phenotypes is analysis of whole-mount skeletal preparations. Whole-mount skeletal staining permits evaluation of the shapes and sizes of skeletal elements in their appropriate locations. The technique is thus the major method for detecting changes in skeletal patterning. Because cartilage and bone can be distinguished by differential staining, this technique is also a powerful means to assess the pace of skeletal maturation. This protocol covers staining of the pre- and postnatal mouse skeleton using Alcian blue and Alizarin red to identify cartilage and bone, respectively.

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

Access this chapter

Protocol
USD 49.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 84.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 139.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  1. Horobin RW (2010) How do dyes impart color to different components of the tissues? In: Kumar GL (ed) Educational guide special stains and H & E, 2nd edn. Carpinteria, California, pp 159–166

    Google Scholar 

  2. Schultze O (1897) Ueber herstellung und conservirung durchsichtiger embryonen zum stadium der skeletbildung. Anat Anz 13:3–5

    Google Scholar 

  3. Nagy A, Gerstsenstein M, Vintersten K, Behringer R (2009) Alcian blue staining of the mouse fetal cartilaginous skeleton. Cold Spring Harb Protoc. doi: 10.1101/pdb.prot5169

  4. Jegalian BC, De Robertis EM (1992) Homeotic transformations in the mouse induced by over expression of a human Hox3.3 transgene. Cell 71:901–910

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Estrada K, Retting KN, Chin AM et al (2011) Smad6 is essential to limit bmp signaling during cartilage development. J Bone Miner Res 26(10):2498–2510

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  6. Nagy A, Gerstsenstein M, Vintersten K, Behringer R (2006) Isolating extraembryonic membranes. Cold Spring Harb Protoc. doi: 10.1101/pdb.prot4267

  7. Hogan BLM, Beddington R, Costantini F, Lacy E (1994) Manipulating the mouse embryo: a laboratory manual. Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press, Cold Spring Harbor, NY

    Google Scholar 

  8. Retting KN, Song B, Yoon BS, Lyons KM (2009) BMP and Smad signaling through Smad1 and Smad5 is required for endochondral bone formation. Development 136(7):1093–1104

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  9. Ovchinnikov D (2009) Alcian blue/Alizarin red staining of cartilage and bone in mouse. Cold Spring Harb Protoc. doi: 10.1101/pdbprot5170

  10. Nagy A, Gerstsenstein M, Vintersten K, Behringer R (2009) Alizarin red staining of post-natal bone in mouse. Cold Spring Harb Protoc. doi: 10.1101/pdb.prot5171

  11. Green MC (1952) A rapid method for clearing and staining specimens for the demonstration of bone. Ohio J Sci 52(1):31–33

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2014 Springer Science+Business Media, LLC

About this protocol

Cite this protocol

Rigueur, D., Lyons, K.M. (2014). Whole-Mount Skeletal Staining. In: Hilton, M. (eds) Skeletal Development and Repair. Methods in Molecular Biology, vol 1130. Humana Press, Totowa, NJ. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-62703-989-5_9

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-62703-989-5_9

  • Publisher Name: Humana Press, Totowa, NJ

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-62703-988-8

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-62703-989-5

  • eBook Packages: Springer Protocols

Publish with us

Policies and ethics