Biology of Bone Tissue: Structure, Function, and Factors That Influence Bone Cells

Figure 1

(a)–(d) Light micrographs of portions of alveolar bone of rats. (a) HE-stained section showing a portion of a bony trabecula (B). Polarized osteoblasts (Ob) and giant multinucleated osteoclasts (Oc) are observed in the bone surface; osteocyte (Ot) surrounding bone matrix is also observed. (b) Section subjected to immunohistochemistry for osteocalcin detection and counterstained with hematoxylin. Note osteocalcin-positive osteoblasts (arrows) on the surface of a bony trabecula (B). BV: blood vessel. (c) Undecalcified section subjected to the Gomori method for the detection of alkaline phosphatase, evidencing a portion of bone matrix (B) positive to the alkaline phosphatase (in brown/black). Ob: osteoblasts. (d) Undecalcified section subjected to the von Kossa method for calcium detection (brown/dark color). von Kossa-positive bone matrix (B) is observed; some positive granules (arrow) can also be observed on the surface of the bone trabeculae. Scale bar: 15 μm.

(a)

(b)

(c)

(d)