I am somewhat perplexed at Barry's failure to stain fine fibres with Orcein. The generally accepted situation is the very opposite, that is to say, that it is the *only* elastic stain to do so. Most certainly, I have never seen the very fine fibres of the papillary dermis stain with anything else.
Orcein is a very fine stain indeed - pun intended. The problem with it is that is ugly, dirty, filthy aesthetically unpleasing stain.
Pinkus, the famous dermatopathologist, used a dilute orcein, 20% if I remember, of standard strength, then followed with an overnight counterstain of homeopathic strength Giemsa, which was differentiated in very dilute alcoholic eosin.
This is a very tricky stain to get right, but is gorgeous when perfected.

Dr Terry L Marshall, B.A.(Law), M.B.,Ch.B.,F.R.C.Path
 Consultant Pathologist
 Rotherham General Hospital
 South Yorkshire
 England
        terry.marshall@rothgen.nhs.uk

-----Original Message-----
From: Barry R Rittman [mailto:barry.r.rittman@uth.tmc.edu]
Sent: 02 April 2003 12:41
To: ncragg; HistoNet Server
Subject: RE: Orcein staining for elastic fibres in skin


I personally would not recommend that you use Orcein as in my hands it has not proved to be effective in showing fine elastic fibers. I would recommennd Hart's modification of Weigert's elastin stain.
Barry