STAINING, PRACTICAL AND THEORETICAL 



Results : 



Cellular elements are stained in various shades from purple to 

 dark brown. Connective tissue fibres are stained, individually, 

 a distinct green. 



Notes: 



(i) For eynbryonic tissues it is advisable to use 0-5 per cent light 

 green instead 0/0-125 per cent if less mature fibres are to be displayed. 



(ii) In this technique there appears to be a series of colour 

 compounds formed by the chemical union of light green with the 

 complex haematoxylin-alum-tissue molecules. 



(iii) This method, which is superior to the haemotoxylin-eosin 

 procedure for displaying fibre structure in tissue sections was dis- 

 covered by Mr. J. Rafferty, Senior Technician, Department of 

 Anatomy, University College, Cork, during the course of work on 

 the development of the Falg method. 



Reference: Raflferty, J. (i960), unpublished. 



RHODAMINE B - ANILINE METHYLENE BLUE 

 For splenic and lymphoid tissues 



Solutions required: 



A. Methylene Blue, 2% alcoholic . . 10 ml. 

 Aniline water . . . . . . 15 rnl- 



Distilled water 30 ml. 



B. Rhodamine B 1% aqueous . . 2-5 ml. 

 Distilled water 47-5 ml. 



C. Solution A (above) . . . . 3 volumes 

 Solution B (above) . . • • 7 volumes 



Technique: 



Tissues are fixed in Zenker-Formol and embedded in paraffin 

 wax. 



1. After removal of mercurial precipitate by treatment with 

 iodine in the usual manner {see pages 496-8) sections are stained 

 two to three hours in Solution C; then washed rapidly with abso- 

 lute alcohol. 



2. Clear in xylol ; mount. 



390 



