In this section of decalcified bone from the skull of a rodent fetus, osteoblasts can be seen lined up along the surface of the spicules of bone. Note that the osteoblasts are separated from the darl-blue stained matrix by a layer of light blue. The latter represents osteoid, bone matrix that has not yet mineralized. Mineralization causes the matrix to stain more darkly.
Numerous osteocytes can be seen within lacunae and a large, multinucleated osteoclast is seen to the left of the spicule. The curved depression in the spicule is a Howship's lacuna, and marks where the osteocyte was attached to the spicule before becoiming detached during specimen preparation.
Most of the other cells, located away from the spicule, are mesenchymal cells of the developing fetus.
Stain = AZAN
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| Copyright by: Paul B. Bell, Jr. & Barbara Safiejko-Mroczka |
The University of Oklahoma