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Collagen type XII is a member of the fibril‐associated collagens and is characterized by a short triple‐helical domain with three extended noncollagenous NC3 domains. Previous studies suggested that collagen XII is a component of cartilage but little is known about its spatial‐temporal distribution. This study uses a polyclonal antibody to the purified NC3 domain to investigate its developmental distribution in rat forelimb. Collagen XII was present at the joint interzone on embryonic day 16 (E16d) and restricted to the presumptive articular cartilage by E18d. Labeling of the articular surface intensified as development progressed postnatally (day 1 [1d] to 28d) and extended approximately six cell diameters deep. In juvenile rats, collagen XII antibodies also labeled the longitudinal and transverse septa of stacked chondrocytes in the growth plate. However, collagen XII was not associated at any developmental …