To stain or dye tissues (animals or plants).
Hematoxylin is only the drastic substance that these solutions contain. For histology, the two most commonly used are Mayer's Hematoxylin and Harris' Hematoxylin. They both contain water, hematoxylin and various salts.
The two main types of Hematoxylin stains are Harris Hematoxylin and Mayer's Hematoxylin. Harris Hematoxylin is commonly used for routine histology staining while Mayer's Hematoxylin is preferred for special staining techniques. Both stains are used in histology to visualize nuclei and other structures in tissues under a microscope.
Hematoxylin is a basic dye. It has a positive charge and binds to negatively charged structures in cells, such as nucleic acids, proteins, and some carbohydrates, resulting in a blue color after staining.
Hematoxylin is a natural dye extracted from the heartwood of the logwood tree (Haematoxylum campechianum). It is commonly used as a nuclear stain in histology and pathology to highlight cell nuclei.
Hematoxylin solutions can improve initially due to oxidation of the dye, which deepens the staining. However, prolonged exposure to air can lead to further oxidation and breakdown of the dye, causing it to deteriorate. It is important to store hematoxylin solutions properly to maintain their quality.
Hematoxylin stain is commonly used in histology to help visualize cellular structures. Hematoxylin binds to acidic components in the cells, such as nucleic acids, and stains them blue. This helps to distinguish cellular nuclei and other structures under a microscope.
Hematoxylin stain is used in histology to selectively stain cell nuclei blue, allowing for better visualization of tissue morphology and structures. It serves as a contrast stain in combination with eosin stain, highlighting cellular and tissue features for microscopic analysis and diagnosis.
The main ingredients of a hematoxylin stain typically include hematoxylin powder (extracted from the logwood tree), mordant (usually aluminum or iron salts), and a solvent (such as alcohol or water). Other ingredients may be added depending on the specific staining protocol and desired results.
Hematoxylin is commonly used as a nuclear stain in histology to visualize cell nuclei. It binds to negatively charged components in the cell, such as DNA, and stains them blue-purple. Hematoxylin is often used in combination with eosin, a counterstain that helps visualize cytoplasmic components, to create contrast in tissue samples.
Hematoxylin stain can cast hemoglobin dark-blue to blue-black in Puchtler's method for hemoglobin staining. This method involves staining with hematoxylin followed by differentiation in acid alcohol and a counterstain in eosin.
Lithium carbonate is used in Hematoxylin and Eosin (H&E) staining as a mordant, which helps to intensify the staining of cell nuclei with hematoxylin. It aids in achieving better contrast and clearer differentiation between cell structures in histological samples.
The counterstain used in PAS staining is usually hematoxylin, which stains cell nuclei blue or purple. This helps to provide contrast and improve the visibility of the carbohydrate-rich structures stained by the periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) reaction.