The use of agents which improve staining of fresh human fibrocartilage

Comparisons of three agents were undertaken to improve the bulk staining of fresh human fibrocartilage with gold chloride for neural elements. The medial meniscus of the knee was the experimental tissue. Dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) increased the penetration of the stain but had a negative effect on the deposition of the gold on the tissue site. Sodium borohydride apparently reacted with tissue aldehydes decreasing the background enough to give the impression of an improved staining reaction. Triton X-100, the agent of choice, solubilized the collagen protein of the menisci sufficiently to allow penetration of the stain and, being nonionic, did not react with the gold chloride solution.