[Histonet] Merkel cell staining

[John Kiernan]

I don't know if this helps, but there is a Merkel's
fixative dating from 1870.
  Mix equal volumes of 1:400 chromium trioxide
  and 1:400 platinic chloride (presumably = H2PtCl6).
Immerse objects (presumably very small or thin) for
several hours to a few days. "After washing out with
alcohol, objects stain excellently notwithstanding
the admixture of chromic acid." (A. Bolles Lee 1885.
The Microtomist's Vade Mecum. London: Churchill.
pp 23 and 158-159. [Facsimile edition published in 
1987 by Science Heritage Ltd, Lincolnwood, IL]

Quinacrine has been used as a vital fluorochrome
for Merkel cells in amphibian and rat epidermis.
Crowe & Whitear 1978. Cell Tiss. Res. 190:273-283.
Nurse et al 1983. Cell Tiss. Res. 228:511-524.

I've not tried any of this myself!
-- 
-------------------------------
John A. Kiernan
Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology
The University of Western Ontario
London,   Canada   N6A 5C1
   kiernan[AT]uwo.ca
   http://publish.uwo.ca/~jkiernan/
   http://instruct.uwo.ca/anatomy/530/index.htm
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Marshall wrote:
> 
> Hi all
> I am looking to demonstrate Merkel cells in skin. I can not find any
> reference in my textbooks to their demonstration although I have not
> used the internet.  Also I have tried silver stains for demoing free
> nerve endings in skin with not much success. The immunocytochemistry for
> neuro filament protein was a bit better but not great. Is there anyway I
> can improve on this?
> 
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-- 
-------------------------------
John A. Kiernan
Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology
The University of Western Ontario
London,   Canada   N6A 5C1
   kiernan[AT]uwo.ca
   http://publish.uwo.ca/~jkiernan/
   http://instruct.uwo.ca/anatomy/530/index.htm
_______________________________