Culture and identification of osteoclasts from the duck

Establishing the method of culture and identification of osteoclastic cells from long bones of duck,to provide the research foundation of various factors contributing to bone malnutrition.Osteoclasts were isolated from duck(1-7 days)long bones.The shape and function of these osteoclasts were observed and identified by phase-contrast microscope,TRAP staining,Toluidine blue staining.Both morphological and functional studies showed that the isolated cells share some of the typical characteristics of osteoclasts:multinuclearity;developmental spreading and pseudopodial activity when cultured on glass;high tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase(TRAP);resorption lacunae could be found when the cells were co-cultured with devitalized bone slices and the number increased as the time followed.The number of degraded osteoclasts decreased along with the time of culture,while the number of forming osteoclasts of monocytes increased.The osteoclasts could make resorption lacunae on the dentine discs.