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A facile, reliable method for staining blood vessel endothelium
K Nakatsu1, J H Kawamoto, J F Brien
1Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada.
Journal of Pharmacological Methods
|April 1, 1988
Summary
A novel silver stain method effectively outlines endothelial cell borders in rabbit aorta using ammonium sulfide. This rapid technique is suitable for pharmacology labs, offering clear visualization under various lighting conditions.
Area of Science:
- Vascular Biology
- Histology Techniques
Background:
- Endothelial cell morphology is crucial for understanding vascular health and disease.
- Accurate visualization of endothelial cell borders aids in pharmacological studies.
- Existing silver staining methods can be time-consuming or require specialized equipment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To describe a modified, rapid silver-based staining technique for rabbit aorta endothelial cells.
- To present an alternative development method using ammonium sulfide instead of light exposure.
- To provide a practical staining procedure for pharmacology laboratories.
Main Methods:
- Rabbit aortic rings were treated with dextrose and silver nitrate solutions.
- The stain was developed using dilute ammonium sulfide, followed by a final dextrose wash.
- Treated aortic tissues were mounted on slides using glycerin jelly for microscopy.
Main Results:
- The modified staining procedure successfully outlined endothelial cell borders in rabbit aorta.
- The use of ammonium sulfide provided an efficient and rapid development of the silver stain.
- The resulting preparations were suitable for viewing under both reflected and transmitted light.
Conclusions:
- This modified silver stain offers a fast, easily mastered method for visualizing endothelial cell borders.
- The technique is well-suited for routine use in pharmacology laboratories.
- The ammonium sulfide development method simplifies the staining process and enhances accessibility.