Elastin Stains

Question 1

What are the two primary elastin stains?

Answer 1

• Verheoffs Van Gieson Stain
• Orcein Stian

Question 2

Characteristics of an Orcein stain

Answer 2

• Elastin stain
• Composed of Orcein dye and a counter stain (either H+E or just Hx (Mayers or Erlichs)
• Displays all elastin fibres
• Takes longer to complete
• Works under acidic conditions (bring to 70% not water)

Question 3

Histochemical basis of orcein staining

Answer 3

H+ bonding

Question 4

Components of an orcein stain and their functions

Answer 4

• Orcein dye
  
  • Used to stain elastin fibres
  • Under acidic conditions (70% alcohol) stains slide a reddish
    brown
• Counter-stain
  
  • can be just Hx (Erhlichs or Mayers) or H+E
  • allows for the visualisation of general morphology alongside
    elastin fibres

Question 5

What is Orcein Dye

Answer 5

• A natural dye like Hx comprised of Lichen

Question 6

Why is synthetic Orcein used over natural?

Answer 6

• The R groups within natural Orcein are variable and thus it’s unreliable
• Synthetic Orcein is used to keep things consistent

Question 7

What is Verhoeffs Van Gieson

Answer 7

An elastin stain that builds on the Van Gieson trichrome stain

Question 8

Components of the Verheoffs Van Gieson stain and function

Answer 8

• Verheoffs Hx
  
  • Alcoholic Hx (Stain)
  • Ferric chloride (Oxidiser/Mordant)
  • Lugols iodine (Oxidiser)
• Van Gieson Stain
  
  • Counter stain
  • Acid Fuchsin (Stains collagen red)
  • Picric acid (Stains background structures yellow)

Question 9

Histochemical basis

Answer 9

ionic charge/pH and Van Der Waals interactions