The type and distribution of sulphated proteoglycans (PGs) in the midshaft subperiosteal bone of 15-18-day embryonic chick femurs were studied immunocytochemically and biochemically, using four monoclonal antibodies (MAb 2B6, 3B3, 1B5, and 5D4). These MAb specifically recognize epitopes in chondroitin 4-sulphate (C4-S) and dermatan sulphate (DS); chondroitin 6-sulphate (C6-S) and unsulphated chondroitin (C0-S); C0-S; and keratan sulphate (KS) respectively. Immunohistochemistry showed that staining of C4-S, DS, and KS, but not of C6-S and C0-S, was limited to osteoid, the cell surface of osteocytes, and to the walls of osteocytic lacunae and bone canaliculi in 15-18-day embryonic specimens. However, no significant difference in the distribution and intensity of immunostaining was observed in these specimens. Bone proteins were extracted from fresh 18-day embryonic specimens with a three extraction procedure, 4 M guanidine HCl (GdnCl, G-1 extract), 0.4 M EDTA (E-extract), followed by GdnCl (G-2 extract), to characterize mineral binding and collagenous matrix associated PGs in E- and G2-extracts respectively. Western blot analysis of E- and G2-extracts demonstrated that chondroitinase ABC-digested PGs with a molecular weight (Mr) approximately of 45,000 containing GAGs predominantly corresponding to C4-S and/or DS, with no detectable C6-S or C0-S present in the mineral and matrix phase, whereas KSPGs having an Mr of approximately 72,000 are only present in the mineral phase. These results indicate that embryonic chick bone contains small PGs having C4-S, DS, and KS chains with preferential localization to osteoid, the cell surface of osteocytes, and to the walls of osteocytic lacunae and bone canaliculi.