STAINS FOR LIGHT MICROSCOPY – 2
Hematoxylin and eosin
The figure shows a histological section of the intestinal wall stained with hematoxylin and eosin (HE).
The right side of the image contains a bundle of smooth muscle cells. These spindle-shaped cells are arranged in parallel, forming an organized muscle layer.
The left side contains connective tissue, which has abundant collagen fibers. These fibers form a major component of the extracellular matrix in many tissues.
The nuclei of cells in both tissues are stained blue-purple by hematoxylin. The cytoplasm of the muscle cells is stained pink by eosin, as are the collagen fibers in the extracellular matrix.
Notice the difference in the arrangement of the nuclei in the two tissues. In the muscle layer, the nuclei are regularly arranged because the cells are organized in parallel. In the connective tissue, the nuclei are more irregularly distributed.
Also notice that most of the nuclei in the connective tissue stain more intensely and appear darker than those in the muscle tissue. These nuclei contain relatively large amounts of condensed chromatin and are therefore described as having dense chromatin. In contrast, nuclei that stain more lightly, such as those of the muscle cells, contain more dispersed chromatin and are described as having loose chromatin.
The figure shows a histological section of the intestinal wall stained with hematoxylin and eosin (HE).
The right side of the image contains a bundle of smooth muscle cells. These spindle-shaped cells are arranged in parallel, forming an organized muscle layer.
The left side contains connective tissue, which has abundant collagen fibers. These fibers form a major component of the extracellular matrix in many tissues.
The nuclei of cells in both tissues are stained blue-purple by hematoxylin. The cytoplasm of the muscle cells is stained pink by eosin, as are the collagen fibers in the extracellular matrix.
Notice the difference in the arrangement of the nuclei in the two tissues. In the muscle layer, the nuclei are regularly arranged because the cells are organized in parallel. In the connective tissue, the nuclei are more irregularly distributed.
Also notice that most of the nuclei in the connective tissue stain more intensely and appear darker than those in the muscle tissue. These nuclei contain relatively large amounts of condensed chromatin and are therefore described as having dense chromatin. In contrast, nuclei that stain more lightly, such as those of the muscle cells, contain more dispersed chromatin and are described as having loose chromatin.
After placing the mouse cursor over the image or clicking on it , the nuclei in both tissues become dark blue. The cytoplasm of the smooth muscle cells appears light blue, while the collagen fibers appear pink.
Small intestine. Hematoxylin and eosin. Medium magnification.
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