Renal lymphocytic leukemia

[Olympusman]

The slide has this inromation on it. The question I have is what is this stain? It looks like a silver stain. Any ideas? This was prepared in the mid-1960s if that would help.

[yvan_be]

Probably an iron haematoxylin-Van Gieson variant, but the red and yellow has faded as can be expected from Van Gieson: it isn't very stable, unless special care is being taken in finishing the slide (mounting in canada balsam, acidified with salisylic acid). Van Gieson's stain is a mixture of picric acid and acid fuchsin.

There are several variants of the iron haematoxylin-Van Gieson technique: Weigert's haematoxylin - Van Gieson, Verhoeff's haematoxylin - Van Gieson, ...

In general: nuclei, elastic fibers, striations in striated muscle tissue: dark blue-brown-black, collagen: red, muscle: yellow.

[Olympusman]

Thanks, Yvan.

Mike