Distribution of slow-cycling cells in epiphyseal cartilage and requirement of β-catenin signaling for their maintenance in growth plate.

Slow proliferation is one of the characteristics of stem cells. We examined the presence, distribution, and regulation of slow-cycling cells in the developing and growing skeleton using a pulse-chase method with a new nucleoside derivative, 5-ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine (EdU). C57BL/6 mice received daily intraperitoneal injections of EdU from postnatal day 4 to day 7.