SPECIAL STAINS PART 8

Question 1

What is prussian blue stain

Answer 1

It is a histochemical reaction

Question 3

What is the use of prussian blue stain

Answer 3

1. Is used to detect the presence of iron in tissues
2. It also detects single granules of iron in cells

Question 3

why is iron considered toxic in the human body

Answer 3

1. Excess iron can lead to toxicity. When iron interacts with oxygen, it can generate free radicals—highly reactive molecules. These free radicals can damage cell membranes, proteins, and DNA
2. Accumulation of free radicals can harm cells, contributing to oxidative stress and various health conditions.

Question 3

How does the body protect itself from iron

Answer 3

By using iron-storage proteins (Haemosiderin it is found inside cells)

Question 4

How is the presence of iron identifies in H&E stained tissue

Answer 4

by the presence of haemosiderin that shows up as a granular brown pigment in cells when examined with H&E stain.

Question 4

Haemosiderin is visible on H&E staining, why is prussian blue staining required then?

Answer 4

Because other pigments can stain a similar color, so haemosiderin needs to be differentiated from other brown pigments using the Prussian blue histochemical staining technique.

Question 4

Explain the general principles of prussian blue stain

Answer 4

1. Tissue sections are treated with hydrochloric acid to denature the binding proteins of the haemosiderin molecule, and thereby release ferric (3+) ions.
2. Potassium ferrocyanide is then introduced. The ferric ions combine with this solution, resulting in the formation of ferric ferrocyanide, an insoluble bright blue pigment (otherwise known as Prussian blue).
   Although the hydrochloric acid and potassium ferrocyanide can be introduced as separate solutions, most formulations now typically use them in combination.
3. If required, the PB reaction can then be followed by a red counterstain, such as neutral red or safranin O.

Question 4

explain the reaction results of he tissue after staining with prussian blue stain

Answer 4

Tissue sections is seen as blue or purple deposits, while other tissue components, such as nuclei and cytoplasm, are highlighted red by the counterstain

Question 5

How is prussian blue stain used in research and diagnostic lab

Answer 5

1. Used to detect the presence of iron in biopsy specimens, especially in tissues such as bone marrow and spleen
2. others may use the stain simply because they come across a brown granular pigment in tissue sections that needs to be identified
3. This procedure is particularly helpful when they need to evaluate patients with pathological conditions that involve haemosiderin deposits. In addition to haemorrhage, this can occur in patients with haemolytic anaemia, as well in
   conditions such as haemochromatosis (where excessive amounts of iron may form in organs due to iron overload), some liver diseases, and in the lungs of patients with
   congestive heart failure