A STAINING METHOD FOR BONE CANALICULI

The modified Bodian method with protargol (silver protein) is ordinari ly used to detect nerve fibers. With this technique, applied to decalc ified rat bone sections, the bone canaliculi were clearly stained blac k with good contrast to the bone matrix in both lamellar and woven bon e. In addition, the connections between the bone canaliculi and other canaliculi, osteoblasts, osteoclasts, and chondrocytes were easily det ectable. We found that the bone canaliculi of woven bone were fewer in number and ran more irregularly than those of lamellar bone. We belie ve that this staining method for bone canaliculi in decalcified bone i s superior to previously reported methods and may be useful in studies on bone pathology.