A consistent phosphotungstic acid hematoxylin stain for glial fibers

Abstract

After deceration, celloidinization and hydration, oxidize 10 micron paraffin sections for 15 min in a solution containing 0.3 g KMnO4 and 0.1 ml conc. H2SO4 per 100 ml distilled water. Wash in water and reduce in 5% oxalic acid until the sections are colorless. Wash thoroughly in water and place in 4% iron alum solution for two hours. Wash briefly in water and stain for two hours in phosphotungstic acid hematoxylin. Rinse briefly in 95% ethanol and dehydrate in n-butyl alcohol or absolute ethanol for 4 min with two changes, clear and mount. Glial fibers, myofibrils, red blood cells, etc. are stained blue while astrocyte cell bodies, collagen, etc. are stained red. This stain has proven highly consistent in a wide variety of astrocytic derangements. Despite the intensity of this PTAH modification, false positive staining was not observed.