SECTION TWO 



(VI) Certain basophils of the anterior pituitary, after the same 

 fixatives as in (V). In the pituitary of the rat and of the pig the 

 two kinds of basophils are usually quite conspicuous. 



Notes: 



(a) After fixatives containing mercury the background is pale 

 mauve. After formalin or Bouin the background is colourless. 



(b) If the stain is prepared by adding paraldehyde to Feulgen's 

 fuchsin the resultant solution will stain the beta cells very distinctly 

 but leave the elastic fibres unstained. Old solutions of the aldehyde 

 fuchsin will stain elastic fibres very selectively, but leave the beta 

 cells unstained. 



Reference: Gomori, G. (ig^cb). 



ALDEHYDE - FUCHSIN 

 A simplified method for neurosecretory cells 



Solutions required: 



A. Gomori's fluid. 



B. Sodium metabisulphite .. 2-5 gm. 

 Distilled water . . . . . . 100 ml. 



C. Gabe's aldehyde fuchsin, modified 



Basic fuchsin . . . . . . i gm. 



Distilled water . . . . . . 200 ml. 



Heat the water to about 50° C in a flask then add the 

 dye. Heat to boiling point, then allow to boil for one 

 minute. Allow to cool to room temperature; then add: 



HCl, cone 2 ml. 



Paraldehyde . . . . . . 2 ml. 



Plug the neck of the flask with non-absorbent cotton 

 wool and leave it to stand for about four days, until the 

 red colour of the fuchsin has disappeared and no further 

 precipitate has been thrown down. 



Filter off the precipitate and discard the liquid. Wash 

 the precipitate on the filter; drain; then dry the filter 

 paper with the precipitate still on it in the oven, at a 

 temperature not exceeding 80° C. Remove the dried 

 precipitated aldehyde-fuchsin from the filter paper and 

 store it in a reagent bottle. 



Ill 



