Hematoxylin and Eosin Staining Quiz

H&E Staining Procedure

• The step that removes paraffin wax is known as deparaffinization, which typically involves using a solvent like xylene.
• Hematoxylin stains cell nuclei, providing insights into cellular structure and allowing the visualization of nuclear detail and chromatin.
• Rehydration is usually achieved using a series of graded alcohols, transitioning to a final aqueous solution during the H&E staining process.
• Differentiation is a crucial step to selectively remove excess stain from tissue sections, thus providing better contrast and clarity in the histological features observed.
• Hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) is the most widely utilized staining method in histology laboratories due to its effectiveness and the contrast it provides between different tissue components.

Embedding Medium Types

• Paraffin is a common embedding medium that is insoluble in water, which allows for tissue preservation during sectioning.
• The purpose of embedding in a medium is to support the tissue during cutting into thin sections, crucial for analysis under a microscope.
• On the other hand, water-soluble embedding mediums include optimal cutting temperature (OCT) compounds, which facilitate quick freezing and sectioning.
• Paraffin is the most popular medium for embedding tissues intended for light microscopy, due to its ability to provide good resolution and detail in the prepared slides.