[Histonet] Masson Trichrome stain

[Geoff McAuliffe]

    Since Brian is working with bone marrow stem cells trying to 
identify them, their derivitives or their products  based on colors 
adult tissues give with a certain stain is someplace between risky and 
bad science.
    As for

"Smooth muscle and tendon often
have similar microscopic morphology"

they do not. Smooth muscle is composed of smooth muscle cells, tendon is composed largely of collagen fibers. Yes, a good trichrome can be useful (and beautiful) but it is not a substitute for knowing what you are looking at. 

Geoff


-----Original Message-----

>From: Smith, Allen [mailto:asmith <@t> mail.barry.edu] 
>Sent: Wednesday, September 17, 2003 1:58 PM
>To: Geoff McAuliffe
>Cc: histonet <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu; mhanna <@t> histosearch.com
>Subject: RE: [Histonet] Masson Trichrome stain
>
>
>While color should not be the sole criterion of tissue identification, the
>color imparted by a trichrome stain is often very helpful in identifying
>tissues in an unfamiliar organ or animal.  Smooth muscle and tendon often
>have similar microscopic morphology. That is why trichrome stains were
>developed.  Personally, I prefer Gabe's trichrome (Kiernan's HISTOLOGICAL
>AND HISTOCHEMICAL METHODS, 3rd ed., pp. 158-159) to Masson's.
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: Geoff McAuliffe [mailto:mcauliff <@t> umdnj.edu] 
>Sent: Monday, September 15, 2003 11:14 AM
>To: Brian Hatcher
>Cc: mhanna <@t> histosearch.com; HISTONET <@t> pathology.swmed.edu
>Subject: Re: [Histonet] Masson Trichrome stain
>
>
>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
>**********************************************
>
>
>  
>
**********************************************
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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