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A selective stain for mitotic figures, particularly in the developing brain
Stain Technology
|July 1, 1982
Summary
A new selective stain effectively differentiates mitotic figures from resting cells in developing tissues. This method uses crystal violet and nuclear fast red for clear, color-coded cell identification in various organs.
Area of Science:
- Histology
- Cell Biology
- Developmental Biology
Background:
- Conventional nuclear stains lack color differentiation between mitotic and resting cells.
- Existing methods like Hematoxylin and Feulgen are insufficient for selective mitotic figure identification.
- Autoradiographic counting is often required but not always feasible.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a selective staining method for mitotic figures.
- To provide a color-based differentiation between mitotic and resting cells.
- To facilitate quantitative estimation of cell division in developing tissues.
Main Methods:
- Utilized a modified Bouin fixative and 1 N HCl hydrolysis.
- Employed crystal violet for selective staining of mitotic figures.
- Used nuclear fast red as a counterstain for resting cells.
Main Results:
- Achieved intense blue staining of mitotic figures against a red background of resting cells.
- Successfully applied the method to various species (sheep, guinea pig, rat) and organs.
- Demonstrated high efficacy in developing rat brain, aiding prenatal development analysis.
Conclusions:
- The presented method offers a highly selective and color-based approach for identifying mitotic figures.
- This technique is valuable for quantitative studies, especially in developing tissues like the brain.
- The stain is applicable to all organs and simplifies cell recognition in histological analysis.