Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 27, 2026
13:21
Preparation, Purification, and Characterization of Lanthanide Complexes for Use as Contrast Agents for Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Published on: July 21, 2011
[Histochemical staining methods for lanthanum]
1Central Experimental Animal Center, School of Medicine, Teikyo University, Itabashi-ku, Tokyo 173-8605, Japan. mmako@med.teikyo-u.ac.jp
Rinsho Byori. the Japanese Journal of Clinical Pathology
|November 25, 2011
Summary
Lanthanum (La) toxicity in animals is not well understood. This study developed a rat model and a new staining method using Alizarin complexone (ALC) for detecting La in liver tissues.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Science
- Toxicology
- Histology
Context:
- Lanthanum compounds are increasingly used in optical and electronic industries.
- Potential environmental release and human exposure to lanthanum (La) raise concerns.
- The biological effects of La exposure require further investigation.
Purpose:
- To establish an experimental animal model for lanthanum toxicity.
- To develop reliable histological staining methods for detecting lanthanum in tissues.
Summary:
- White precipitates containing lanthanum were observed in the livers of rats after intraperitoneal injection of lanthanum chloride.
- X-ray fluorescent microanalysis confirmed the presence of La in the precipitates.
- Alizarin complexone (ALC) was identified as an effective stain for visualizing La in liver tissue sections, enabling light microscopic detection.
Impact:
- Provides a foundational animal model for studying lanthanum toxicity.
- Introduces a novel and simple histological technique for La detection.
- Facilitates future research into the toxicological mechanisms and health implications of lanthanum exposure.
Related Concept Videos
01:24Simple Staining Technique
OverviewStaining techniques in microscopy enhance the visualization of microorganisms by increasing contrast and allowing the differentiation of cellular structures. Simple staining is one of the fundamental methods used to observe the basic morphological characteristics of microorganisms, including their size, shape, and arrangement. This method relies on the application of a single dye to stain the entire cell, producing a clear contrast between the cell and the background.FixationFixation is...
03:31Labeling DNA Probes
DNA probes are fragments of DNA labeled with a reporter tag to enable their detection or purification. The resulting labeled DNA probes can then hybridize to target nucleic acid sequences through complementary base-pairing, and may be used to recover or identify these regions.
Radioisotopes, fluorophores, or small molecule binding partners like biotin or digoxigenin, are the most widely used reporter tags for labeling DNA probes. These labels can be attached to the probe DNA molecule via...
Radioisotopes, fluorophores, or small molecule binding partners like biotin or digoxigenin, are the most widely used reporter tags for labeling DNA probes. These labels can be attached to the probe DNA molecule via...
01:03Fixation and Sectioning
Two basic types of preparation are used to visualize specimens with a light microscope: wet mounts and fixed specimens.
The simplest type of preparation is the wet mount, in which the specimen is placed in a drop of liquid on the slide. A liquid specimen can be directly deposited on the slide using a dropper. Solid specimens, such as skin scraping, can be placed on the slide before adding a drop of liquid to prepare the wet mount. Sometimes the liquid is simply water, but stains are often added...
The simplest type of preparation is the wet mount, in which the specimen is placed in a drop of liquid on the slide. A liquid specimen can be directly deposited on the slide using a dropper. Solid specimens, such as skin scraping, can be placed on the slide before adding a drop of liquid to prepare the wet mount. Sometimes the liquid is simply water, but stains are often added...
01:26Differential Staining Technique
Differential staining is an essential microbiological technique that exploits variations in cell wall structures to classify and identify microorganisms. It facilitates the distinction of bacteria, aiding in diagnostic and research applications. Two of the most widely used differential staining methods are Gram staining and acid-fast staining, both of which rely on the chemical and structural differences in bacterial cell walls.Gram Staining TechniqueGram staining differentiates bacteria by...
01:13Special Staining Techniques
Specialized staining techniques play a vital role in microbiology by enabling the visualization of specific bacterial structures that remain undetectable with standard microscopy methods. These techniques not only enhance the structural visualization of bacterial cells but also provide critical insights into their pathogenicity and classification. Additionally, they support diagnostic and research endeavors in microbiology by identifying key bacterial features.Capsule Staining for Virulence...
03:46Qualitative Analysis
For solutions containing mixtures of different cations, the identity of each cation can be determined by qualitative analysis. This technique involves a series of selective precipitations with different chemical reagents, each reaction producing a characteristic precipitate for a specific group of cations. Metal ions within a group are further separated by varying the pH, heating the mixture to redissolve a precipitate, or adding other reagents to form complex ions.
For instance, group IV...
For instance, group IV...