Osteoblast Isolation from Murine Calvaria and Long Bones

This chapter describes the isolation of primary mouse osteoblasts from adult mouse calvaria and long bones, as well as the process of isolation of bone cells from neonatal mouse calvaria. Osteoblasts from adult mouse bone are obtained as outgrowth from collagenase-treated bone pieces. Isolation of osteoblasts from neonatal calvaria is achieved by sequential enzymatic digestion of the bone matrix. Because of differences in origin and isolation method, each of the primary bone cell cultures described will have their own characteristics.