Selective Skeletal Staining in Whole Chicken Embryos; A Rapid Alcian Blue Technique

Abstract

Studies of cartilaginous structures in toto are frequently required for teratological evaluation of drugs. In such studies, the number of specimens must be large enough to permit proper statistical evaluation, therefore a rapid and reliable preparatory technique is essential. We have used Lundval's technique, in which staining is accomplished with an acidified alcoholic toluidine blue, but it has proved to be slow, and the dye is subject to fading in light and to diffusion from the stained skeletal elements.