Alcian Blue Staining of Cartilage of Short-Tailed Fruit Bat (Carollia perspicillata)

John J. Rasweiler; Chris J. Cretekos; Richard R. Behringer

doi:10.1101/pdb.prot5165

Alcian Blue Staining of Cartilage of Short-Tailed Fruit Bat (Carollia perspicillata)

¹ Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, State University of New York Downstate Medical Center, Brooklyn, NY 11203, USA
² Department of Biological Sciences, Idaho State University, Pocatello, ID 83209, USA
³ Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA

↵⁴Corresponding author (rrb{at}mdanderson.org)

This article is also available in Emerging Model Organisms: A Laboratory Manual, Vol. 1. CSHL Press, Cold Spring Harbor, NY, USA, 2009.

INTRODUCTION

This protocol is used to visualize the cartilaginous elements of the developing skeleton using alcian blue. It has been used with excellent results on the fruit bat Carollia perspicillata, as well as several other bat species at stages from CS 14 through CS 22. Staining has been shown to last at least 2 yr in benzyl alcohol:benzyl benzoate (BABB). However, staining has been observed to weaken during the course of months. It is therefore advisable to document results immediately.