Dibasic staining of large epoxy tissue sections and applications to surgical pathology

Abstract

A variety of normal and pathologic aldehyde-fixed osmium postfixed human tissues were prepared as large sections embedded in Spurr epoxy. They were stained with a sequential basic fuchsin--methylene blue stain which gives "hematoxylin- and eosin-like" staining and additionally functions as several special stains. This technic also allows for electron microscopy directly on the embedded tissue. The histologic and cytologic preservation and overall staining was superior to tissue embedded in glycol methacrylate. The methods and technics presented in this article have important applications in diagnostic surgical pathology and histology in general.