High-throughput methods for visualizing the teleost skeleton: capturing autofluorescence of alizarin red

P>For nearly a century, Alizarin red S (alizarin sodium sulfonate) has been used by morphologists to stain calcified bone matrix. More recently, its traditional use has frequently been replaced by more modern techniques; however, its auto fluorescent property continues to contribute to research well beyond the context of bone development and regeneration. The purpose of this study is to describe detailed methods that can be used to capture the autofluorescence of Alizarin red-stained mineralized tissues in juvenile zebrafish. These methods allow for in situ analyses of minute skeletal elements, such as pharyngeal teeth, and preclude the need for dissection.