Histological Section - Common Laboratory Stains

Common Laboratory Stains

Stain Common use Nucleus Cytoplasm Red blood cell (RBC) Collagen fibers Specifically stains
Haematoxylin General staining when paired with eosin (i.e. H&E) Blue N/A N/A N/A Nucleic acids—blue

ER (endoplasmic reticulum)—blue
Eosin General staining when paired with haematoxylin (i.e. H&E) N/A Pink Orange/red Pink Elastic fibers—pink

Collagen fibers—pink Reticular fibers—pink
Toluidine blue General staining Blue Blue Blue Blue Mast cells granules—purple
Masson's trichrome stain Connective tissue Black Red/pink Red Blue/green Cartilage—blue/green

Muscle fibers—red
Mallory's trichrome stain Connective tissue Red Pale red Orange Deep blue Keratin—orange

Cartilage—blue Bone matrix—deep blue Muscle fibers—red
Weigert's elastic stain Elastic fibers Blue/black N/A N/A N/A Elastic fibers—blue/black
Heidenhain's AZAN trichrome stain Distinguishing cells from extracellular components Red/purple Pink Red Blue Muscle fibers—red

Cartilage—blue Bone matrix—blue
Silver stain Reticular fibers, nerve fibers, fungi N/A N/A N/A Reticular fibers—brown/black

Nerve fibers—brown/black
Wright's stain Blood cells Bluish/purple Bluish/gray Red/pink N/A Neutrophil granules—purple/pink

Eosinophil granules—bright red/orange Basophil granules—deep purple/violet Platelet granules—red/purple
Orcein stain Elastic fibres Deep blue N/A Bright red Pink Elastic fibres—dark brown

Mast cells granules—purple Smooth muscle—light blue
Periodic acid-Schiff stain (PAS) Basement membrane, localizing carbohydrates Blue N/A N/A Pink Glycogen and other carbohydrates—magenta

Table sourced from Michael H. Ross, Wojciech Pawlina, (2006). Histology: A Text and Atlas. Hagerstown, MD: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. ISBN 0-7817-5056-3.

The Nissl method and Golgi's method are useful in identifying neurons.


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