STAINING, PRACTICAL AND THEORETICAL 



PERIODIC ACID - SCHIFF - HAEMALUM - AURANTIA 



For the differential staining of gastric mucosa 



(Marks & Drysdale's 1957 method) 



Solutions required: 



A. Periodic acid, 0-5% 



B. SchifF's reagent 



C. Acid haemalum (Mayer) 



D. Lithium carbonate, saturated, aqueous 



E. Aurantia, 0-5% in 50% alcohol. 



Technique: 



1. Sections of 10% formalin-fixed material are taken down to 

 water as usual. 



2. Immerse in solution A for two minutes. 



3. Wash in running water for two minutes. 



Note: This prevents connective tissue from reacting as Schiff 

 positive. 



4. Immerse in Schiff 's reagent for five minutes. 



5. Wash in running tap water for five minutes. 



6. Stain in acid haemalum for five minutes. 



7. Rinse in water. 



8. Blue in solution D. 



9. Wash for five minutes in running water. 



10. Immerse in the aurantia solution for ten seconds. 



1 1 . Wash in water. 



12. Differentiate with 95% alcohol, controlling by microscopic 

 examination, until the aurantia is retained only by the oxyntic 

 cells. 



13. Dehydrate, clear, and mount. 



Results: 



Mucous cells: homogeneous red cytoplasm. Peptic cells: coarse 

 blue granules in regular reticular framework. Oxyntic cells: fine 

 closely packed yellow granules. Erythrocytes: brilliant yellow. 



358 



