Histology - 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	N/A	Reticular fibers—brown/black Nerve fibers—brown/black Fungi—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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