Methods for Evaluation of the Differentiation to Osteoblasts and Osteoclasts: Roles of Gangliosides in Bone Metabolisms.

Recent research has demonstrated that gangliosides play a role in the regulation of bone metabolism. Bone formation and resorption are occurring continuously, and resulting that new bones are formed. This is called bone remodeling and bone volume is maintained by a balance between bone formation by mature osteoblasts and bone resorption by osteoclasts. This chapter will introduce the three experimental techniques: alizarin red staining, alkaline phosphatase (ALP) assay, and tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) staining. These methods are useful for studying the relationship between gangliosides and the differentiation of osteoblasts and osteoclasts, which are involved in bone metabolism.