The idiom ‘to leave no stone unturned’ means to do everything possible to find something or to solve a problem. Here, Guy Orchard and colleagues apply this approach in the search for an alternative mordant for use in a new haematoxylin solution.
Haematoxylin is the most important and widely used dye in cellular pathology. There has not been any significant advance over decades to attempt to improve or develop its use for histological investigations. Traditionally, we have not audited or challenged the existing practices or formulations of the key histological stain we use to evaluate the morphological features of tissue. Accepting practice without challenge or audit is unscientific. No one can expect advancement without reflecting on existing practices to see where improvements can be made.
The aim of this preliminary study is to attempt to see if a new haematoxylin could be made that contains a brand new mordant. One that may impart different staining qualities and offer additional options for histological staining of tissue sections. In this way, future applications can be explored with possible improvements to morphological identification and ultimately pathological diagnosis.
Haematoxylin is a dark blue or violet stain. It is basic and positively charged, and binds to basophilic substances, thus it will bind to DNA and RNA, which are acidic in nature and negatively charged.1–3
Log in or register FREE to read the rest
This story is Premium Content and is only available to registered users. Please log in at the top of the page to view the full text.
If you don't already have an account, please register with us completely free of charge.
Register
