Dyes

Question 1

Explain haematoxylin

Answer 1

Colour: Purple/blue nucleus
Specifically stains: nucleic acids

Question 2

Explain eosin

Answer 2

Colour: Red/pink cytoplasm
Specifically stains: Elastic & reticular fibres

Question 3

Explain Toluidine Blue

Answer 3

Colour: Blue nucleus & cytoplasm
Specifically stains: General cell stain

Question 4

Explain Silver (dye)

Answer 4

Colour: Black/brown
Specifically stains: nerve & reticular fibres

Question 5

Explain Periodic Acid-Schiff

Answer 5

Colour: purple/brown
Specifically stains: Carbohydrates

Question 6

Explain Alcian Blue

Answer 6

Colour: Blue extracellular matrix of support cells
Specifically stains: Acidic epithelial cells

Question 7

Explain Cyanin

Answer 7

Colour: purple myelin
Specifically stains: myelin

Question 8

What are basic dyes?

Answer 8

Stain basophilic tissue components - net positive charge binds to cell constituents that are negatively charged - RNA & DNA (binds to phosphate group), Polysaccharides (sulfate group), proteins (mucous)