MEDICAL AND BIOLOGICAL STAINING TECHNIQUES 



HAEMATOXYLIN - BASIC FUCHSIN 



For haemofuscin, melanin and haemosiderin in animal 



tissues 



Solutions required: 



A. Haematoxylin (Ehrlich). 



B. Basic fuchsin 0-5% in 50% alcohol. 



Technique: 



Tissues may be fixed in Zenker or in absolute alcohol or in 10% 

 formalin. Paraffin or Celloidin sections may be employed. If 

 Zenker's fixative is used it will be necessary to remove mercury 

 deposits in the usual manner. 



1 . Stain for five to ten minutes in Ehrlich haematoxylin. 



2. Wash well in tap water, then several times in distilled water. 



3. Stain from five to twenty minutes in the basic fuchsin solu- 

 tion ; then pour off excess stain and wash well in distilled water. 



4. Differentiate in 95% alcohol; then dehydrate in absolute 

 alcohol ; clear in xylol and mount in balsam. 



Results: 



Nuclei, blue; melanin and haemosiderin remain unstained in 

 their natural brown colours ; haemofuscin, bright red. 



HAEMATOXYLIN (DELAFIELD) - EOSIN 

 For general staining 



Solutions required: 



A. Delafield haematoxylin. 



B. Eosin, yellowish, 1%, aqueous. 



Technique: 



I. Tissues should be fixed in Zenker, Bouin or 10% formalin 

 and embedded in paraffin wax. 



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