MEDICAL AND BIOLOGICAL STAINING TECHNIQUES 



fibres, bluish green. Collagen fibres and ossein, cherry red. 

 Cytoplasm and muscle, pale yellow. 



Reference: Lison, L. (1954), Stain Tech., 29, no. 3, 13 1-8. 



ALDEHYDE FUCHSIN (G. Gomori) 



For elastic tissue, mast cells, beta cells of the pancreatic 



islets, etc. 



Solutions required: 



Dissolve the basic fuchsin in the alcohol; to the cold solution add 



the acid and the paraldehyde ; shake well ; then leave to stand for about 



twenty-four hours until the colour of the solution has changed to violet 



(almost indistinguishable in appearance from gentian violet). As soon 



as this change has taken place the stain is ready for use. 



Note: The solution will keep for about four weeks at room temperature, 

 but as the stain ages during the four weeksy longer staining times are 

 necessary. 



Technique: 



1. Tissues may be fixed in almost any fixative, but those con- 

 taining dichromate are not recommended as they adversely eff"ect 

 the clearness of the final picture. 



2. Embed in paraffin wax for preference: if celloidin is used, 

 the celloidin must be removed completely from the sections before 

 staining as it is impervious to the stain. 



3. Fix sections to slides and remove paraffin wax in the usual 

 way. 



4. Wash with absolute alcohol followed by 90% alcohol. 



5. Immerse in solution A in a stoppered jar for ten minutes to 

 one hour. 



48 



