Manual hematoxylin and eosin staining of mouse tissue sections

Abstract

The hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) stain is the standard used for microscopic examination of tissues that have been fixed, processed, embedded, and sectioned. It can be performed manually or by automation. For economic reasons, the manual technique is generally the method of choice for facilities with a low sample volume. This protocol describes manual H&E staining of fixed, processed, paraffin-embedded, and sectioned mouse tissues. In H&E-stained tissues, the nucleic acids stain dark blue and the proteins stain red to pink or orange. For accurate phenotyping and delineation of tissue detail, the protocol must be adhered to rigorously. This includes frequent reagent changes as well as the use of "in-date" reagents. Appropriate color in a good H&E stain allows for identification of many tissue subtleties that are necessary for accurate diagnosis.