Histological Stains: A Literature Review and Case Study

Abstract

The history of histology indicates that there have been significant changes in the techniques used for histological staining through chemical, molecular biology assays and immunological techniques, collectively referred to as histochemistry. Early histologists used the readily available chemicals to prepare tissues for microscopic studies; these laboratory chemicals were potassium dichromate, alcohol and the mercuric chloride to harden cellular tissues. Staining techniques used were carmine, silver nitrate, Giemsa, Trichrome Stains, Gram Stain and Hematoxylin among others.The purpose of this research was to assess past and current literature reviews, as well as case studies, with the aim of informing ways in which histological stains have been improved in the modern age. Results from the literature review has indicated that there has been an improvement in histopathology and histotechnology in stains used. There has been a rising need for efficient, accurate and less complex staining procedures. Many stain procedures are still in use today, and many others have been replaced with new immunostaining, molecular, non-culture and other advanced staining techniques. Some staining methods have been abandoned because the chemicals required have been medically proven to be toxic. The case studies indicated that in modern histology a combination of different stain techniques are used to enhance the effectiveness of the staining process. Currently, improved histological stains, have been modified and combined with other stains to improve their effectiveness.

Natural Alternatives for Chemicals Used in Histopathology Lab- A Literature Review

“…It is a commonly used stain in histology used by early botanists such as John Hill in their studies in 1770s [9]. The stain was used to study microscopic tissue structures when in ammonical solution form and it is still used today in histologic studies.…”

“…The materials and the technology used in the histopathology lab have been undergoing transformation [9]. Historical staining techniques by early pathologists and surgeons were borrowed from a 17 th century scientist Leeuwenhoek, who used substances such as madder, indigo and saffron to stain tissues and used rudimentary microscopes to study them [26].…”

“…Potassium dichromate, alcohol and the mercuric chloride were used to process the cellular tissues followed by staining with Carmine, Silver nitrate, Giemsa, Trichrome Stains, Gram Stain and Haematoxylin. Other stains used routinely are Masson's Stain used in connective tissues; Golgi Stain used in neuronal fibres; Toluidine Blue, Immunological labelling that have fluorescent or enzymatic stains, Kluver-Barrera Stain used in Lipofuscin, Periodic Acid-Schiff (PAS) stain, Mallory's CT Stain used in carbohydrates [9]. Advanced stains include: Immunohistochemistry (IHC) and the in situ hybridization.…”

Classical Methods of Tissue Studies: The Artifacts and the Impact of Transverse Serial Sections

“…Histology is used in particular for diagnosis in the field of anatomy and pathological cytology [4]. In the course of research, the study can be done on an entire organ.…”

Estudio de las técnicas de impregnación argéntica de Pío del Río Hortega: actualidad y vigencia de las mismas

“…La propiedad que tienen algunos tejidos de reducir la plata en solución amoniacal a plata metálica, sin intervención de agentes reductores externos se llama argentafinidad (72). Esta propiedad es característica de determinadas granulaciones citoplasmáticas presentes en células cutáneas como los melanocitos, que secretan melanina, y en ciertas células de secreción endocrina presentes en el tubo digestivo y que reciben el nombre de células argentafines (73). La reducción de la plata amoniacal a plata metálica depende esencialmente del contenido en sus gránulos de secreción, por lo cual la imagen que aparece tras la impregnación es una imagen granular citoplasmática.…”