“…Sections (50 μm) were cut using a Leitz 1600 sawing microtome (Leitz, Wetzlar, Germany) and then ground and polished. Subsequent to deacrylation of the sections by immersion in toluene, xylene and acetone, immunohistochemical staining was performed using primary mouse monoclonal antibodies specific to alkaline phosphatase (ALP) (Sigma-Aldrich, Steinheim, Germany), osteocalcin (OC) (Abcam, Cambridge, UK), and rabbit polyclonal antibodies against type I collagen (Col I) (LF-39, NIH, Bethesda, Rockville, MD, USA) and bone sialoprotein (BSP) (LF-84, NIH, Bethesda, MD, USA) [ 2 , 37 , 38 , 39 ]. Other sections were stained for Tartrate Resistant Acid Phosphatase (TRAP) activity to identify cells with osteoclastic activity using a prefabricated kit (Sigma-Aldrich, Steinheim, Germany) which is based on the method described by Goldberg and Barka (1962) [ 40 ].…”