STAINS PART I

DEAD AND LIVING CELLS

Basic acridine fluorochrome: DIFFERENTIATES

ACRIDINE ORANGE

DNA shows green fluorescence while RNA shows red fluorescence

ACRIDINE RED 3B

Deposits of calcium salts and possible site of Phosphatase Activity

ALCIAN BLUE

Complex, water-soluble phthalocyanine dye similar to chlorophyll.

ALCIAN BLUE

Staining Mucopolysaccharides; More specific for connective tissues and epithelial mucin due to its use as an acid solution.

BISMARCK BROWN

Contrast stain for Gram’s technique, Acid Fast and Papanicolau Method. FOR DIPHTHERIA

CARMINE

Chromatin stain for fresh smears; Slighly soluble in water at neutral reaction. Kept in AMMONIACAL SOLUTION.

CARMINE

Combined with Aluminum chloride to stain glycogen.

CONGO RED

Best known as an indicator. Stain for Axis cylinders in embryos.

CONGO RED

Used as 4% Aqueous solution in Krajian’s Method (elastic tissues, amyloid and myelin)

CRYSTAL VIOLET

Nuclear or chromatin stain; Used in Amyloid in Frozen Sections and Platelets in Blood.

GENTIAN VIOLET

Mixture of Crystal Violet, Methyl Violet and Dextrin

GIEMSA STAIN

Staining blood smears, Differentiates Leukocytes

GOLD SUBLIMATE

For metallic impregnation; made up of gold chloride and mercuric chloride

IODINE

Oldest stains; Originally for starch granules.

IODINE

Stains Amyloid, Cellulose, Starch, Carotenes and Glycogen.

IODINE

Removal of Mercuric Fixatives artifact pigments

IODINE

Mordant used in Gram’s staining

GRAM’S IODINE

Iodine with Potassium Iodide, Distilled water; Used in Gram Weigert Method (For microbes and fibrin in tissue sections)

LUGOL’S IODINE

Test for glycogen, amyloid and corpora amylacea

JANUS GREEN

For mitrochondria during intravital staining

MALACHITE GREEN

Staining Ascaris eggs and RBCs; Bacterial Spore Stain. Also used as decolorizer and as a counterstain.

METHYL GREEN

Stains the chromatin green in the presence of an acid. Gives false positive reactions with Mucin.

METHYLENE BLUE

Basic Nuclear stain. Best employed with EOSIN.

POLYCHROMING

oxidation of methylene blue. Results to the loss of methyl groups and leaving lower homologues of the dye (azures) and deaminized oxidation products (Thiazoles)

LOEFLER’S POLYCHROME METHYLENE BLUE

For rapid diagnosis and frozen sections

ORCEIN

Excellent stain for elastic fibers (Taenzer Unna Orcein Method)

ORCEIN

For dermatological studies (demonstrates finest and most delicate fibers in the skin)

OSMIUM TETROXIDE

Staining fat; Fats reduce Osmium Tetroxide to Osmium Dioxide (Black staining of fats)

PICRIC ACID

Employed as a contrast stain to acid fuchsin. Demonstrates CONNECTIVE TISSUES

PRUSSIAN BLUE

Colored salt of Ferric Ferrocyanide, normally utilized for manufacturing paints.

PRUSSIAN BLUE

Intravital staining for Circulatory System

RHODAMINE B

Used with osmic acid. Stains Blood and Glandular Tissues

SILVER NITRATE

10% Aqueous Solution; For Spirochetes, Reticulum and Fiber stains.

TOLUIDINE BLUE

Nuclear stain for fixed tissues. Substitute for Thionine in Fresh Frozen Tissue Sections.

TOLUIDINE BLUE

Staining for Nissl Granules or Chromophilic bodies.

VICTORIA BLUE

Demonstrate Neuroglia in Frozen sections

OIL SOLUBLE DYES

NOT A REAL DYE because they do not have AUXOCHROME GROUPS

SUDAN BLACK

Most sensitive of all oil soluble dyes. Has more greater affinity for phospholipids than other lysochromes.

SUDAN BLACK

Colors Neutral Lipids like Triglycerides

SUDAN III

First sudan dye introduced into histochemistry. Fat soluble, Good as a fat stain for Central Nervous System tissue.

SUDAN IV WITH BENZOIC ACID

Intensifies fat and prevents rapid deterioration of the solution. Recommended for staining triglycerides - Giving them a deep and intense red color