Modified Periodic Acid-Schiff (PAS) Is an Alternative to Safranin O for Discriminating Bone-Cartilage Interfaces.

Cartilage histomorphometry is often performed on decalcified, paraffin-embedded bone sections, which provide versatility in staining applications from basic morphology to immunohistochemistry. Safranin O is a cationic dye that binds to proteoglycans in cartilage and is routinely used to assess growth plate dynamics and/or fracture repair at bone-cartilage interfaces. When used with a counterstain such as fast green, safranin O can offer exquisite differentiation of cartilage from surrounding bone.