Ossification in nude mice. 2. A histological, histochemical and immunohistochemical study

The autopodia of proximal limbs as well as the proximal growth plates of the tibia of newborn nu/nu including super nu/nu, nu/+ and +/+ mice were studied. No differences in the ossification of proximal limb autopodia (regarding the distribution of alkaline phosphatase, acid phosphatase or glycosaminoglycans) were observed in mice of genotypes studied. On the other hand, a thinner proximal tibial growth plate characterizes one-month-old nu/nu mice, and also the architecture and alkaline phosphatase pattern were altered. The results suggest a postnatal secondary effect of the nu/nu genotype on skeletal development.