Beta-Galactosidase Staining in the Skeleton

The lacZ gene, encoding for the β-galactosidase enzyme, is widely used as a reporter gene in bone biology due to the ease of visualization in situ on whole-mount or on tissue sections. In this protocol we provide detailed methods for visualizing this reporter gene for both in vivo and in vitro studies. In addition, we describe a few tips for troubleshooting for mineralized tissues such as the skeleton.