A perfusion method of incubation to demonstrate horseradish peroxidase in bone.

A perfusion method of incubation to show horseradish peroxidase in the bone of young mice is presented. After perfusion fixation, the incubation medium is perfused from the descending aorta into the entire lower half of the animal. From the vessels there is good penetration of the medium into all tissues. This allows the preparation of any one perfused bone to ground-, semithin-, and ultrathin sections. Differences in peroxidase distribution in the entire bone suggest regional differences in vascular supply. The tracer enzyme diffuses freely from the vessels into the extracellular fluid of bone. 3 min. after injection, peroxidase is found between all bone lining cells and in osteocyte lacunae.