On Thu, 8 Aug 2002, Martin, Ronald wrote:
> Does anyone know of a special stain for paneth cells of the GI tract?

Biebrich scarlet (CI 26905) used at an alkaline
pH such as 8.5 or higher. Detects the high content
of basic amino acids (arg & lys, especially arg)
in the granules. Also stains eosinophils & sperm
tails for the same reason. 
Ref: Spicer & Lillie 1961 Stain Technol. 36: 365-370.

In principle any anionic dye in alkaline solution
will work. Eosin is OK. An advantage of biebrich 
scarlet in this kind of work is that its colour 
hardly changes over a wide range of pH. 
----------------------------------------
John A. Kiernan
Department of Anatomy & Cell Biology
The University of Western Ontario
London,  Canada   N6A 5C1
   kiernan@uwo.ca
   http://publish.uwo.ca/~jkiernan