[Histonet] Masson Trichrome stain

[Geoff McAuliffe]

Hi Brian:

    Using colors to identify tissues is not the way to go. Muscle 
(skeletal, cardiac or smooth) and collagen have very different 
morphologies, that alone should be the criteria for identification. A 
good hematoxylin and eosin or even toluidine blue should tell you what 
you need to know.

Geoff

Brian Hatcher wrote:

> I am attempting to use Masson's trichrome stain on some rat bone 
> marrow stem cells cultured on fibrous contstructs.  Following staining 
> with the acid fuchsin, a large amount of tissue growing in between the 
> fibers is staining red.  Following the treatment with aniline blue, 
> however, this tissue is no longer visible.  In some areas it appears 
> as though it has torn away from the fibers where it was previously 
> spread between (some arease of floating tissue are visible).  My 
> initial thoughts were that perhaps this tissue was muscle, although 
> this was a bit supprising as these cells should be differentiating 
> into osteoblasts in the presence of these fibers.  I had also read 
> somewhere that the collagen would stain red with acid fuchsin, 
> however, subsequent staining with aniline blue should result in 
> collagen appearing blue.  The only problem is I am seeing neither blue 
> nor red cells in these specific areas following aniline blue 
> staining.  Any suggestions???
> Thanks
> Brian
> -- 
> Brian Hatcher
> Graduate Research Assistant
> Department of Biomedical Engineering
> University of Florida
> PO Box 116400
> Gainesville, FL 32611-6400
> Ph: 352-392-6656
> Fax: 352-392-3771
> email: briany <@t> ufl.edu
>
--
**********************************************
Geoff McAuliffe, Ph.D.
Neuroscience and Cell Biology
Robert Wood Johnson Medical School
675 Hoes Lane, Piscataway, NJ 08854
voice: (732)-235-4583; fax: -4029 
mcauliff <@t> umdnj.edu
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