Special Stains in Histology
40 Questions
1 Views

Choose a study mode

Play Quiz
Study Flashcards
Spaced Repetition
Chat to Lesson

Podcast

Play an AI-generated podcast conversation about this lesson

Questions and Answers

What is the primary purpose of mucin stains in tissue examination?

  • To highlight the presence of lipids
  • To visualize calcium deposits
  • To reveal mucin production in tissues (correct)
  • To identify types of connective tissue

    • What does a calcium stain primarily detect in tissue samples?

  • Iron granules
  • Calcium deposits (correct)
  • Protein deposits
  • Fatty acids

    • Which stain would be most appropriate for identifying excess glycogen in liver tissues?

  • Oil red O stain
  • Calcium stain
  • Glycogen stain (correct)
  • Trichrome stain

    • What is the main limitation of using fat stains like Oil Red O?

    <p>They are sensitive to the presence of alcohols (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Melanin stains are specifically useful for which of the following?

    <p>Identifying abnormal pigment in tissues (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which tissue components are primarily highlighted by trichrome stains?

    <p>Collagenous stroma and connective tissues (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the significance of detecting hemosiderin through special stains?

    <p>Suggests iron overload conditions (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    In what context is a fat stain, like Oil Red O, particularly useful?

    <p>Determining presence of fat emboli (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following options is NOT considered a type of special stain listed?

    <p>Nucleotide stains (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What kind of samples are necessary for accurate fat staining procedures?

    <p>Fresh or cryostat sections (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary purpose of glycogen stains in histology?

    <p>To detect storage carbohydrates (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Calcium stains in histology are primarily used to identify what?

    <p>Presence of mineral deposits (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Melanin stains are specifically designed to visualize which type of cellular component?

    <p>Pigments (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Mucin stains are utilized in histology primarily to identify what?

    <p>Viscous secretory products (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What type of tissues would fat stains be most relevant for?

    <p>Adipose tissues (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Why are special stains required in histology rather than routine stains?

    <p>They highlight specific tissue components for diagnosis (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following is NOT a type of special stain mentioned?

    <p>Hemoglobin stains (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which component primarily binds with eosin during staining?

    <p>Proteins (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What key feature distinguishes progressive stains from regressive stains?

    <p>Progressive stains achieve desired intensity immediately (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the role of a mordant in the staining process?

    <p>To bind the dye to the tissue (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which stain is specifically used to visualize deposits of calcium or calcium salts in tissue sections?

    <p>Von Kossa method (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the main pathological condition associated with the presence of melanin in tissues?

    <p>Malignant melanoma (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which special stain is primarily used to detect mucin in tissue?

    <p>Periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) stain (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What type of pigmentation is lipochrome associated with?

    <p>Lipid oxidation breakdown products (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which staining method can potentially highlight fat within tissues?

    <p>Sudan black B (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which stain would you use to visualize pathological glycogen accumulation?

    <p>Glycogen stain (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    In which anatomical areas is lipochrome pigmentation most commonly found?

    <p>Heart, liver, CNS, and adrenal cortex (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What color represents calcium deposits when visualized with H&E stain?

    <p>Deep blue-purple (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which method utilizes silver nitrate to visualize calcium deposits as black colored spots?

    <p>Von Kossa method (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What type of tissue change can mucin staining detect?

    <p>Mucus accumulation or excess production (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which stain is primarily used to detect acidic mucin in tissue samples?

    <p>Alcian blue stains (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the main purpose of the periodic acid-schiff (PAS) reaction?

    <p>To stain glycogen and related substances (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which statement accurately describes Best's carmine stain?

    <p>It stains glycogen through hydrogen bond formation. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    In which type of cancer is the periodic acid-schiff staining particularly useful?

    <p>Adenocarcinoma in various organs (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What characteristic distinguishes neutral mucin from acidic mucin in staining properties?

    <p>Neutral mucin stains with PAS, but not Alcian blue. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following stains would best demonstrate fat within tissue samples?

    <p>Fat stains (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How does the hexamine silver technique primarily identify glycogen in tissues?

    <p>Through the formation of a black compound from reduced silver. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following tissues is most likely to require special staining for melanin detection?

    <p>Skin tissue (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What type of carcinomas can be diagnosed using staining techniques for acidic mucin?

    <p>Colorectal and breast carcinoma (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which type of staining method would be ineffective for demonstrating the presence of calcium in tissues?

    <p>Fat stains (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Flashcards

    Hemosiderin

    Iron storage granules, often found in old hemorrhage sites.

    Perl's Prussian Blue Reaction

    A method to detect iron in tissues by producing an insoluble blue compound.

    Hemochromatosis

    Iron overload condition causing organ failure.

    Oil Red O (ORO) stain

    A fat stain that highlights neutral lipids and fatty acids.

    Signup and view all the flashcards

    Fat Emboli

    Fat particles in the bloodstream, often seen in tissue samples.

    Signup and view all the flashcards

    Connective Tissue Stains

    Stains highlighting collagen and other connective tissue elements.

    Signup and view all the flashcards

    Trichrome Stain

    A stain commonly used to highlight connective tissue in tissues.

    Signup and view all the flashcards

    Mucin

    Specific stain for substances like mucus.

    Signup and view all the flashcards

    Glycogen

    Staining method for examining sugars.

    Signup and view all the flashcards

    Lipochrome (Lipofuscin)

    Staining method for examining specific pigments.

    Signup and view all the flashcards

    Alcian Blue Stain

    A stain that specifically targets acidic mucins, commonly used to identify certain types of cancer, such as colon and breast cancer.

    Signup and view all the flashcards

    Neutral Mucin Stain

    A stain that identifies neutral mucins, often found in glands of the digestive tract and prostate.

    Signup and view all the flashcards

    PAS Stain

    A stain that detects various carbohydrates, including glycogen, glycoproteins, and mucoproteins.

    Signup and view all the flashcards

    Glycogen Storage Diseases

    Conditions where glycogen accumulation is abnormal, diagnosed using PAS staining.

    Signup and view all the flashcards

    Amylase Predigestion

    A step in the PAS staining process that removes glycogen, allowing for specific identification of other carbohydrates.

    Signup and view all the flashcards

    Best's Carmine Stain

    A stain highlighting glycogen through hydrogen bonding.

    Signup and view all the flashcards

    Hexamine Silver Technique

    A method for identifying glycogen by oxidizing it to aldehydes, which then react with a silver solution.

    Signup and view all the flashcards

    Melanin Stain

    A special stain used to visualize melanin, a pigment responsible for skin and hair color.

    Signup and view all the flashcards

    Calcium Stain

    A stain detecting calcium deposits in tissues, important for diagnosing certain conditions.

    Signup and view all the flashcards

    Lipochrome Pigment Stain

    A stain specifically identifying pigments like lipofuscin, often associated with aging.

    Signup and view all the flashcards

    Masson-Fontana Stain

    A common method for staining melanin, relying on silver salts to produce a dark brown or black reaction.

    Signup and view all the flashcards

    DOPA-Oxidase Method

    The most specific method for melanin staining, involving an enzyme reaction that creates a dark pigment.

    Signup and view all the flashcards

    Abnormal Calcium Deposits

    Excess calcium accumulation in tissues, often visible as blue-purple areas in H&E staining.

    Signup and view all the flashcards

    Von Kossa Stain

    A special stain that specifically highlights calcium deposits by reacting with silver nitrate. These deposits appear black.

    Signup and view all the flashcards

    Lipochrome (Lipofuscin) Pigments

    Pigments formed in cells from breakdown of fats and lipids, often accumulating with age.

    Signup and view all the flashcards

    Sudan Black B Stain

    A dye that colors lipochrome pigments, making them easier to identify.

    Signup and view all the flashcards

    Lipochrome Autofluorescence

    Lipochrome pigments naturally glow under a microscope, even without staining.

    Signup and view all the flashcards

    Schmorl's Method

    A staining technique used for various pigments, including lipochrome.

    Signup and view all the flashcards

    Long Ziehl-Neelsen Acid Fast Stain

    A specific type of stain for lipochrome, known for its ability to resist acid washing.

    Signup and view all the flashcards

    Haematoxylin

    A natural dye extracted from the logwood tree, used to stain cell nuclei. It's often synthesized nowadays.

    Signup and view all the flashcards

    Hematoxylin Mordant

    A metal ion like iron or aluminum that helps hematoxylin bind to the tissue, making the staining process effective.

    Signup and view all the flashcards

    Regressive Hematoxylin Stain

    A staining method where the tissue is overstained and then excess dye is removed using acid, creating a specific color intensity.

    Signup and view all the flashcards

    Progressive Hematoxylin Stain

    A method where the tissue is stained until the desired color intensity is reached.

    Signup and view all the flashcards

    Special Stains

    Stains used for specific situations, different from the standard H&E stain, to highlight particular tissue components.

    Signup and view all the flashcards

    Mucin Stains

    Stains used to identify and visualize mucin, a sticky substance found in some tissues.

    Signup and view all the flashcards

    Glycogen Stain

    A stain designed to highlight glycogen, a complex sugar stored in cells.

    Signup and view all the flashcards

    Study Notes

    Special Stains

    • Routine stain is Hematoxylin and Eosin (H&E)
    • Other stains are called "special stains" because they are used in specific situations for diagnostics.

    Haematoxylin

    • Haematoxylin is the oxidized form of hematein, a product from logwood trees.
    • Nowadays, most hematein is synthetic because logwood trees are rare.
    • Haematoxylin must be oxidized to be used as a stain. Oxidation can happen naturally via air or with chemicals like sodium iodate or mercuric oxide.
    • It does not directly stain tissues, it needs a mordant.
    • Mordants typically include metal cations like iron, aluminum, or tungsten.
    • Different kinds of haematoxylin vary in intensity based on the chosen metal ion.
    • Haematoxylin is a basic dye, and thus, has an affinity for nucleic acids in the cell nucleus.
    • Haematoxylin stains can be either regressive or progressive.

    Regressive Stain

    • This stain method is also known as overstaining in some texts
    • Slides are stained for a given amount of time, and then are treated with an acid-alcohol solution which removes some of the stain.
    • It's good for large batches of slides to be stained, as slide staining consistency is more predictable.

    Progressive Stain

    • Slides are stained in haematoxylin until a desired level of intensity is reached.

    Eosin

    • Eosin is a common dye to stain the cytoplasm of cells in histology.
    • Eosin is an acidic dye that binds to basic cell components. Those components are mainly proteins in the cell's cytoplasm.
    • Eosin stains the cytoplasm a bright pink colour.

    Special Stains (Tissue Needs)

    • Mucin stains
    • Glycogen stains
    • Melanin stains
    • Calcium stains
    • Lipochrome (lipofuschin) pigments
    • Iron (hemosiderin)
    • Fat stains
    • Connective tissue stains

    Glycogen Demonstration Techniques

    • Periodic acid-Schiff reaction (PAS)
    • Best's carmine
    • Hexamine silver technique

    Periodic acid-Schiff reaction (PAS)

    • Periodic acid selectively oxidizes glucose residues, creating aldehydes.
    • Aldehydes react with Schiff reagent.
    • Detects glycogen, glycoproteins, mucoproteins, basement membranes, mucin, and fungi.
    • A predigestion step with amylase or diastase removes the staining for glycogen.
    • Nuclei stain blue whilst collagen stains pink.

    PAS Staining Uses

    • Distinguishing different types of glycogen storage disease.
    • Identifying certain types of cancer like bladder, kidney, liver, ovary (adenocarcinoma), pancreas, and lung (adenocarcinoma) cancers

    Melanin Stains

    • Melanin is commonly found in the skin, eyes, and substantia nigra of the brain and hair follicles.
    • Pathological conditions may cause melanin to appear in benign tumors, nevus cell tumors, and malignant melanomas.
    • Demonstration techniques include Masson-Fontana (commonly used), Schmorl's method, or an enzyme histochemical method called DOPA-oxidase, bleaching techniques, or formaldehyde-induced fluorescence.

    Calcium Stains

    • Abnormal calcium deposits can occur throughout the body.
    • H&E staining results in deep blue-purple staining of calcium.
    • Von Kossa method is used to detect calcium or calcium salts. In this method, tissues are treated with a silver nitrate solution. The silver then deposits themselves by replacing the calcium. Strong light makes the calcium appear as metallic silver (visualised as black deposits).

    Lipochrome (Lipofuscin) Pigments

    • Breakdown products from oxidized lipids and lipoproteins.
    • Common wear and tear pigments in heart, liver, CNS, and adrenal cortex.
    • Lipochromes can be stained by Sudan black B stain.
    • They can also exhibit strong orange autofluorescence in formalin-fixed, unstained paraffin sections.
    • Other staining methods include those developed by Schmorl and Long Ziehl-Neelsen.

    Iron (Hemosiderin)

    • Hemosiderin or storage iron granules can be present in areas of old hemorrhage or tissue deposits.
    • Found in reticular endothelial organs (e.g., spleen, liver, bone marrow).
    • Hemochromatosis is a condition of iron overload that is associated with organ failure.
    • A classic method to visualise iron is Perl's Prussian blue reaction.

    Fat Stains

    • Oil Red O (ORO) stain can be used to identify neutral lipids and fatty acids in smears and tissue samples.
    • ORO is quick and simple.
    • Useful for spotting fat emboli in lung or clotting sections of peripheral blood.
    • Fresh smears or cryostat sections are required because lipids can be removed in routine tissue processing, with fixatives, or from alcohol based clearings.

    Connective Tissue Stains

    • Trichrome stains highlight the collagenous stroma in various organs, helping to determine tissue injury patterns.
    • Helps identify normal structures like connective tissue capsules in organs, the lamina propria of the gastrointestinal tract, bronchovascular structures in the lungs.
    • Reticulin stains are useful in parenchymal organs (like the liver and spleen) to outline their architecture.
    • Reticulin helps visualise delicate, argyrophilic reticular fibers.
    • Reticulin staining can help highlight the growth pattern of neoplasms.
    • Elastic tissue staining uses methods such as Verhoff's haematoxylin, Orcein methods, and Aldehyde fuchsin.

    Studying That Suits You

    Use AI to generate personalized quizzes and flashcards to suit your learning preferences.

    Quiz Team

    Related Documents

    Special Stains Lecture Notes PDF

    Description

    This quiz covers the essential concepts of special stains used in histological diagnostics, including haematoxylin and its properties. Learn about the staining techniques such as regressive staining and the role of mordants in enhancing visibility. Test your knowledge on the various classifications and applications of these stains.

    More Like This

    Use Quizgecko on...
    Browser
    Open
    Browser
    Browser