Sven,
I have seen ferritin loss by fixing the tissue in alcohol or using acidic
reagents for decal, but I have not seen it lost in the sections after
fixation and processing.  We used to get bone marrow biopies from Europe
many moons ago and we could not ever demonstrat iron/ferritin/hemosiderin on
any of these samples after processing into GMA without decalcification.
Investigation revealed that the samples were fixed in alcohol and apparently
this removed the iron.  Our own samples were fixed in B5 (mercury fixative)
at the time and we always had good demonstration of iron.
Patsy Ruegg

-----Original Message-----
From: Sven Terclavers [mailto:Sven.Terclavers@med.kuleuven.ac.be]
Sent: Monday, March 17, 2003 3:22 AM
To: HistoNet Server
Subject: Ferritin and prussion blue


Dear all,

Does anyone know whether it is possible that ferritin, or the iron-part,
disappears after an acidic
or alcoholic step (or another step) in the staining-protocol for prussion
blue or due to the
tissuepreperation-protocol for sectioning (paraffin)?
We are trying to stain bloodvessels that are mechanically filled with
ferritin-gel with prussion
blue.  Before staining it is clear that the ferritin is in the vessels, but
after sectioning and
staining it looks like the ferritin is gone.  Normally the prussion blue
should stain the ferritin?!
And it would be strange that it 'falls out' of the vessels during
sectioning, since bismuth can be
used nicely...
Thanks in advance,

Sven Terclavers