Fwd: Orcein staining for elastic fibres in skin

From:Ian Montgomery

Nicola,
        Interestingly I'm doing a wee job for Richard Horobin looking at Orcein staining just now (sorry Richard I'm an idle bugger haven't finished yet). The method I've been using comes from Carleton's Histological Technique 4ed. p177-178.The technique in the book is a modified Taenzer-Unna method (Unna,P. 1891. Mschr. Prakt. Dermatol 12. 123.) I used the technique straight from the text and it works a treat. If you don't have access to Carleton let me know and I'll e-mail the technique. I'm sure, if he's "listening," Richard will comment on your problem.
Ian.


Date: Wed, 02 Apr 2003 09:04:13 +0100
From: ncragg <n.cragg@epistem.co.uk>
Subject: Orcein staining for elastic fibres in skin
To: "'HistoNet Server'" <histonet@pathology.swmed.edu>

Please could anyone help me on which protocol to use for orcein staining
for elastic fibres in skin?

I have several protocols and I'm not sure which one to use.  I have a basic
protocol (stain rehydrated sections with orcein, dehydrate and mount) and
protocols which involve prior stages of oxidising with potassium
permanganate, bleaching with oxalic acid and immersion in periodic acid.  I
am aware that orcein also stains for Hep B antigen in liver tissue,
therefore, I wasn't sure whether these extra steps are something to do with
the tissue being stained.

I need to stain frozen sections of skin and therefore, was also wondering
whether air drying and fixing in 10% formalin, would be OK for this
histological stain?

Kind regards,

Nicola Cragg
Epistem Ltd.
Manchester, UK

Dr. Ian Montgomery,
Histotechnology,
Graham Kerr Building,
Institute of Biomedical & Life Sciences,
University of Glasgow,
Glasgow,
G12 8QQ.
Tel: 0141 339 8855
Office: 4652
Lab: 6644.
Pager: 07625 702883
e-mail: ian.montgomery@bio.gla.ac.uk


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