STAINING, PRACTICAL AND THEORETICAL 



10. Pour off excess stain and wash with water. 



11. Stain for a few seconds with methyl green by allowing a 

 few drops of the solution to flow over the slide. 



12. Dehydrate in two changes of absolute alcohol. 



13. Clear in xylol and mount in Cristalite or D.P.X. 



Results: 



Mitochondria, erythrocytes, and the specific granules of 

 eosinophilic leucocytes are stained red. Nuclei are stained by the 

 methyl green, while the cytoplasm also takes this dye but to a 

 lesser extent. 



Notes: 



(a) The use of oxalated blood is not to be recommended due 

 to the alteration produced, by the commonly used oxalates, in 

 the cytoplasm and nuclear structure of the leucocytes. 



(b) Fixation of the blood smears before they are dry is absolutely 

 essential, according to the author, to obtain well differentiated 

 preparations. 



(c) For further information readers are referred to the original 

 paper which shows two photomicrographs. 



Reference: Andrew, W. & Johnson, H. (1956). 



FUCHSIN ACID - PICRIC ACID 



(After Altmann) 



For mitochondria 



Solutions required: 



A. Altmann' s Fluid: 



Potassium dichromate 5% aqueous i volume 

 Osmic acid 2% aqueous . . i volume 



Note: Although the penetration power of this 

 fixative is poor, it is very satisfactory for surface 

 fixation. 



B. Acid fuchsin . . . . . . 20 gm. 



Aniline water . . . . • • 95 rnl- 



C. Picric acid saturated in absolute alcohol. 



212 



