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Updated: Sep 23, 2025
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Variations on Negative Stain Electron Microscopy Methods: Tools for Tackling Challenging Systems
Published on: February 6, 2018
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Novel electron microscopic staining method using traditional dye, hematoxylin
Hiroyuki Sasaki1, Hisako Arai2, Emi Kikuchi2
1Department of Occupational Therapy, School of Rehabilitation, Tokyo Professional University of Health Sciences, Tokyo, Japan. h-sasaki@tpu.ac.jp.
Scientific Reports
|May 16, 2022
Summary
Researchers found a new, safe staining method for electron microscopy using Mayer's hematoxylin and Reynold's lead citrate. This alternative avoids radioactive uranyl acetate, offering comparable results for ultrathin sections.
Area of Science:
- Biological electron microscopy
- Microscopy staining techniques
Background:
- Uranyl acetate (UA) is a standard stain for ultrathin sections in electron microscopy.
- UA is radioactive and subject to strict international regulations, necessitating safer alternatives.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop an easy-to-use and safe alternative staining method for ultrathin sections.
- To identify commercial light microscopic dyes suitable for electron microscopy.
Main Methods:
- Evaluation of various commercial light microscopic dyes.
- Comparison of staining results using Mayer's hematoxylin and Reynold's lead citrate against UA and Reynold's lead citrate.
Main Results:
- Mayer's hematoxylin followed by Reynold's lead citrate demonstrated comparable staining quality to UA and Reynold's lead citrate.
- The new method proved effective for ultrathin section staining.
Conclusions:
- Mayer's hematoxylin and Reynold's lead citrate offer a reliable and promising alternative to UA staining.
- This method addresses safety concerns associated with radioactive staining materials.
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