The demonstration of bone and cartilage remodelling using alcian blue and hematoxylin.

A new staining technique based on alcian blue and hematoxylin was used during the study of experimentally produced fractures in long bone. The distinction between cartilage, woven bone, mature bone and necrotic bone during successive stages of the fracture healing process was particularly remarkable. This method was found also to be very useful in the study of general tissue morphology. It is suggested that this postdecalcification light microscopy staining method is suitable for studies of cartilage and bone development with particular reference to ossification, remodelling and bone pathology.