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. 2014:1130:113-121.
doi: 10.1007/978-1-62703-989-5_9.

Whole-mount skeletal staining

Diana Rigueur  1 , Karen M Lyons  1
Affiliations

Whole-mount skeletal staining

Diana Rigueur et al. Methods Mol Biol. 2014.

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.

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Alcian blue and Alizarin red staining of (a) E14.5 and (b) E16.5 embryos. Images were taken using bright field optics. Following adjustment of color levels using Photoshop, the embryos were pasted onto a white background
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Alcian blue and Alizarin red staining of a P0 pup. Image was processed as in Fig. 1
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Alcian blue and Alizarin red staining of a 4-week-old postnatal mouse. The image was processed as in Fig. 1
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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