Stains for Sections
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Alcian Blue
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| Ingredients | ||
| alcian blue |
1 gm
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| distilled water |
50.0 ml
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| glacial acetic acid |
3 ml
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| thymol (to prevent mold) |
a crystal
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Directions |
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Mix. Filter before use. At a very acidic pH, alcian blue stains glycosaminoglycans (e.g., mucins, chondroitin sulfate). When used in a staining series with hematoxylin and eosin, it should be used prior to hematoxylin to avoid removing bound hematoxylin. Sections are usually stained for 10 min. |
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Alcoholic Eosin
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| Ingredients | ||
| eosin Y, saturated solution in 95% ETOH (approx. 0.5 gm/100 ml) |
10 ml
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| 95% ethanol |
45 ml
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Directions |
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Mix. Eosin (an acidic dye) has an affinity for cytoplasmic elements. Its yellowish-red color makes it an ideal counterstain to hematoxylin. Slides of sections are stained in the ascending alcohol series, just prior to 95% ETOH. Sections are usually stained for 5 min. |
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Ehrlich’s Hematoxylin
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| Ingredients | ||
| hematoxylin |
2 gm
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| ammonium alum (NH4Al (SO4)2·12H2O) |
3 gm
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| 100% ethanol |
100 ml
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| glycerin |
100 ml
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| distilled water |
100 ml
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Directions |
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Ripen for 6–8 weeks. Then add 10 ml glacial acetic acid. Keeps for years. Filter before use. Hematoxylin (a basic dye) stains acidic components, primarily nucleic acids, a dark blue and is therefore used as a nuclear stain. When used in a staining series with alcian blue, it should be used following the alcian blue to avoid removing bound hematoxylin. Sections are usually stained for 2 min. Following staining, the sections must be "blued" in a mildly basic solution. Tap water is sufficiently basic, and slides should be washed through several changes of tap water until the sections are a dark blue. |
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