[Histonet] Toluidine Blue and staining archaeological residues.

[Birgitta Stephenson]

Hello Paula,

Thanks for the reply. We do use IKI regualarly for starch staining,
however once the slide is stained it is difficult to counterstain to
detect animal residues which might be present. The residues from
grindstones have lost a lot of their microsopic diagnostic properties
and we are hponing that staining the residues will help differentiate
between intensive specialised seed grinders versus multi-purpose
expedient grinders. I am finding that the Phloroglucinol stain is light
sensitive and therefore not permanent which allows for some
counterstaining but still the technique is a work in progress. Any more
thoughts most welcome.

Regards

Birgitta Stephenson
Research Microscopy Lab, University of Queensland


On Tue, 20 Jul 2010 06:51:09 -0700 (PDT), "Paula Pierce"
<contact <@t> excaliburpathology.com> said:
> Starch (plants) + Iodine = Black solution.
> 
> 
> 
> 
> ________________________________
> From: Birgitta Stephenson <bstephen <@t> fastmail.fm>
> To: histonet <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu
> Sent: Mon, July 19, 2010 8:19:27 PM
> Subject: [Histonet] Toluidine Blue and staining archaeological residues.
> 
> Hello Histonetters,
> 
> I am working with archaeological residues lifted from Holocene
> grindstones. I was trying to find a stain that could differentiate
> between plant and animal tissue in one hit. I have been using buffered
> Toluidine Blue solutions however given that these are ancient residues
> which are lifted using 20ul of water, the subtle colour differences
> between blues, purples, and violets have not been useful. I was looking
> at the possibility of counterstaining the Toluidine Blue stained
> residues with say Phloroglucinol or IKI which would highlight the plant
> component of the residue and then see if what was left looked like
> collagen.  Has anyone tried this type of counterstaining? OR does anyone
> know of a stain that would colour differently for plant and animals
> understanding that this is not a tissue section but microscopic residues
> in solution?
> 
> Thanks 
> Birgitta Stephenson
> The Research Microscopy Laboratory, University of Queensland.
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>   Birgitta Stephenson
>   bstephen <@t> fastmail.fm
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  Birgitta Stephenson
  bstephen <@t> fastmail.fm

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