METHODS OF STAINING Flashcards
It is the basis of histochemistry; it is accomplished by controlled, specific chemical reactions designed to give a final color(staining) ate the site/location of the structure of the substances in thee cells or tissues
Specific Staining
Examples of Specific Staining
- Perl’s Prussian Blue reaction - hemosiderin
- Periodic Acid Schiff technique - polysaccharide
The staining of tissue by means of simple alcoholic/aqueous solution of the dye
Simple Staining/Direct Staining
Example of Simple/Direct Staining
Methylene blue and Eosin
The action of the dye is intensified by some other agents
Indirect staining
Substance which when taken up by tissue, helps make the in return serving as a link or bridge to make the staining reaction possible
Mordant
Combines with a dye forming a colored “lake” which combines with tissue to form an insoluble “tissue-mordant-dye complex”
Mordant
An integral part of the staining reaction itself, without which, no staining could possible occur
Mordant
Examples of Mordant
- Potassium Alum with Hematoxylin in Ehrlich’s hematoxylin
- Iron in Weigert’s hematoxylin
Chemical substances that does not participate but merely increases or heightens the color intensity, selectively and crispness of the stain
Accentuator
Differ from mordants in that they do not bind or link the tissue to the dye
Accentuator
Examples of Accentuator
- Potassium hydroxide (KOH) in Loeffler’s Methylene blue
- Phenol in Carbol thionine and Carbol fuchsin
Staining is continued in a definite sequence until the desired intensity of coloring of the different tissue elements is attained
Progressive staining
No washing/differentiation/decolorization in between is required solely relies on the selective affinity of dyes for different cellular elements
Progressive staining
Example of Progressive staining
Any stain is possible as long as no differentiation is done
Tissues are overstained and the excess dye is then removed until the desired intensity is obtained
Regressive staining
What are the two principles of Regressive staining?
- Overstaining
- Washing/Differentiation/Decolorization
Examples of Regressive staining
- Acid Fast Stain
- Gram staining
Metachromatic staining is also known as
Metachromasia
Entails the use of the specific dyes that stains tissues with a color that is different from that of the stain color itself
Metachromatic staining
Metachromatic staining is particularly employed for staining of:
(CECAM)
1. Cartilage
2. Epithelial mucin
3. Connective tissue
4. Amyloid
5. Mast cell granules
basic dye belonging to Thizine and Triphenylmethane groups
Metachromatic dye
Example of Metachromatic stain
Cresyl blue for reticulocytes
The application of a different color or stain to provide contrast and background to the staining of the structural components to be demonstrated
Counterstaining
Example of counterstain
Eosin - for the cytoplasm
Selective staining of living cell constituents, demonstrating cytoplasmic structures by phagocytosis of the dye particle (Cytoplasmic Phagocytosis)
Vital Staining
The __________ of the living cell is resistant to vital stains, and therefore is not demonstrated
nucleus
Examples of Vital Staining
- Trypan blue - vital stain for Reticuloendothelial system)
- Janus Green B - true vital staining of mitochondria
It is done by injecting the dye into any part of the animal body
(either intravenous, intraperitoneal or subcutaneous) producing specific coloration of certain cells, particularly those of the RES
Intravital staining
Common dyes used in Intravital staining:
(LIC)
1. Lithium
2. India ink
3. Carmine
Used to stain living cells immediately after removal from the living body
Supravital staining
Example of supravital staining
Neutral Red - the best vital dye
Makes use of heavy metals which are precipitated with selectivity of certain cellular and tissue components
Metallic impregnation
Has its greatest application in tissue from the CNS and for the demonstration of reticulin
Metallic Impregnation
Differs from staining because it consists of an opaque black particulate precipitate
Metallic Impregnation
Examples of Metallic Impregnation
- Silver Nitrate - most commonly used agent for impregnation
- Osmium tetroxide - used for demonstration of lipids
these dyes are obtained from plants and animals, previously utilized for dyeing of wool and cotton
Natural dyes
The most important and the most commonly used for routine histologic studies
Hematoxylin
A vegetable dye extracted from lichens which are normally colorless, but when treated with ammonia and expose to air, produce a blue or violet colors
Orcein
Mainly used for staining Elastic fibers
Orcein
An old histologic dye extracted from the female cochineal bug (coccus cacti)
Cochineal
A plant with orange stigmas yielding a dye
Saffron
Sometimes known as “coal tar dyes”
Synthetic dyes
Synthetic dyes were originally manufactured from substances that have been taken from _____
coal tar
Derived from the hydrocarbon benzene and are collectively known as Aniline dyes
Synthetic dyes
“color bearers”
Chromophores
Substances capable of producing visible colors
Chromophores
“color increaser”
Auxochromes
substances which impart to the compound property of electrolytic dissociation, thereby altering the shade of the dye, giving it the property of forming salts with another compound and ultimately retaining its color
Auxochromes
For a chromogen to be a dye, it must be composed of an ____ and a ____, and therefore have salt-forming properties, ultimately retaining its color
acid and base
A process of selective removal of excess dye
Differentiation
If the dye is a basic one, differentiation is carried out by ______
an acid solution
Hematoxylin is extracted from the core of heartwood of the tree _________
Haematoxylon campechianum
formed by oxidation of hematoxylin
Ripening
The complex of stain and mordant is called a
Lake
Examples of Mordants
(ACIC TF)
1. Aluminum
2. Chromium
3. Iron
4. Copper
5. Tungsten/Phosphotungstic acid (PTAH)
6. Ferric salt
most commonly used mordant; gives a blue lake appearance; increases the selectivity for nuclei, esp if acid is added or is used as a differentiating agent
Aluminum
causes an intense blue-black appearance when used as a mordant
Ferric salt
A red acid dye for cytoplasm differentially
Eosin
Commonly used as a background or contrast stain because it gives a leasing and useful contrast to nuclear stains such as hematoxylin
Eosin
Examples of Eosin
- Eosin Y (most commonly used)
- Eosin B (rarely used)
- Eosin S/Ethyl Eosin (rarely used)
Hematoxylin and Eosin color reaction - Cytoplasm & proteins in edema fluid
Pale pink
Hematoxylin and Eosin color reaction - Decalcified bone, Osteoid, Collagen
Pink
Hematoxylin and Eosin color reaction - Muscle fiber
Deep pink
Hematoxylin and Eosin color reaction - RBC, Eosinophil granules, Keratin
Bright orange to Red
Hematoxylin and Eosin color reaction - Calcium & Calcified bone
Purplish blue
Hematoxylin and Eosin color reaction - Plasma cells, Osteoblast, Basophilic cytoplasm
Purplish pink
Hematoxylin and Eosin color reaction - Karyosome
Dark blue
Hematoxylin and Eosin color reaction - Nucleus
Blue to blue-black
Hematoxylin and Eosin color reaction - Cartilage
Light blue to Dark blue
A specialized fixative used in frozen section which serves to localize antigens and hydrolytic enzymes; it is also used for preservation of lipids
Formol Calcium
It is similar with H and E technique but the differentiation stage is omitted; a progressive form of staining
Modified H and E technique
Papanicolaou stain makes use of 3 stains:
- Hematoxylin
- OG-6 (orange green)
- Eosin Azure
Among the three stains used in papanicolaou stain, this stain is for staining nuclear structures
Hematoxylin
Among the three stains used in papanicolaou stain, this stain is for staining cytoplasm of mature cells (e.g. Mature superficial cells)
OG-6 (orange green)
Among the three stains used in papanicolaou stain, this stain is for staining cytoplasm of immature cells (e.g. Intermediate and parabasal cells)
Eosin azure
Composition of Eosin Azure
- Eosin
- Bismarck brown
- Lithium carbonate
- PTA
- Light green stain (36,50,65)
This stain omitted the Bismarck brown dye for Eosin Azure solution
Modified Pap’s Stain
Sharpness of color and brilliant staining reactions are improved
Modified Pap’s Stain