Staining

This article is about dyeing organic matter in the laboratory. For the wood treatment, see wood staining.

Staining is a biochemical technique of adding a class-specific (DNA, proteins, lipids, carbohydrates) dye to a substrate to qualify or quantify the presence of a specific compound. It is similar to fluorescent tagging.

Stains and dyes are frequently used in biology and medicine to highlight structures in biological tissues for viewing, often with the aid of different microscopes. Stains may be used to define and examine bulk tissues (highlighting, for example, muscle fibers or connective tissue), cell populations (classifying different blood cells, for instance), or organelles within individual cells.

Biological staining is also used to mark cells in flow cytometry, and to flag proteins or nucleic acids in gel electrophoresis.  

Additional recommended knowledge

Daily Visual Balance Check

Weighing the right way

Essential Laboratory Skills Guide

In vitro staining

In vitro staining involves colouring cells or structures that are no longer living. Certain stains are often to reveal more details and features than a single stain alone. Combined with specific protocols for fixation and sample preparation, scientists and physicians can use these standard techniques as consistent, repeatable diagnostic tools. A counterstain is stain that makes cells or structures more visible, when not completely visible with the principal stain. For example, crystal violet stains only Gram-positive bacteria in Gram staining. A safranin counterstain is applied which stains all cells, allowing the identification of Gram-negative bacteria as well.

Preparation

The preparatory steps involved depend on the type of analysis planned; some or all of the following procedures may be required.

Permeabilization involves treatment of cells with (usually) a mild surfactant. This treatment will dissolve the cell membranes, and allow larger dye molecules access to the cell's interior.

Fixation–which may itself consist of several steps–aims to preserve the shape of the cells or tissue involved as much as possible. Sometimes heat is used to kill, adhere, and alter the specimen so it will accept stains. Most chemical fixatives (chemicals causing fixation) generate chemical bonds between proteins and other substances within the sample, increasing their rigidity. Common fixative include formaldehyde, ethanol, methanol, and/or picric acid. Pieces of tissue may be embedded in paraffin wax to increase their mechanical strength and stability and to make them easier to cut into thin slices.

Mounting usually involves attaching the samples to a glass microscope slide for observation and analysis. In some cases, cells may be grown directly on a slide. For samples of loose cells (as with a blood smear or a pap smear) the sample can be directly applied to a slide. For larger pieces of tissue, thin sections (slices) are made using a microtome; these slices can then be mounted and inspected.

Staining

At its simplest, the actual staining process may involve immersing the sample (before or after fixation and mounting) in dye solution, followed by rinsing and observation. Many dyes, however, require the use of a mordant: a chemical compound which reacts with the stain to form an insoluble, coloured precipitate. When excess dye solution is washed away, the mordanted stain remains.

Negative staining

A simple staining method for bacteria which is usually successful even when the "positive staining" methods detailed below fail, is to employ a negative stain. This can be achieved simply by smearing the sample on to the slide, followed by an application of nigrosin (indian ink). After drying, the microorganisms may be viewed in bright field microscopy as lighter inclusions well-contrasted against the dark environment surrounding them. Note: negative staining is a mild technique which may not destroy the microorganisms therefore it is unsuitable for studying pathogens.

Gram staining

Gram staining is used to determine gram status to classify bacteria broadly. It is based on the composition of their cell wall. Gram staining uses crystal violet to stain cell walls, iodine as a mordant, and a fuchsin or safranin counterstain to mark all bacteria. Gram status is important in medicine; the presence or absence of a cell wall will change the bacterium's susceptibility to some antibiotics.

Gram-positive bacteria stain dark blue or violet. Their cell wall is typically rich with peptidoglycan and lacks the secondary membrane and lipopolysaccharide layer found in Gram-negative bacteria.

On most Gram-stained preparations, Gram-negative organisms will appear red or pink because they are counterstained;due to presence of higher lipid content, after alcohol-treatment, the porosity of the cell wall increases & hence the CVI complex (Crystal violet -Iodine) can pass through. Thus, the primary stain is not retained. Also, in contrast to most Gram-positive bacteria, Gram-negative bacteria have only a few layers of peptidoglycan and a secondary cell membrane made primarily of lipopolysaccharide.

Haematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining

  Haematoxylin and eosin staining protocol is used frequently in histology to examine thin sections of tissue. Haematoxylin stains cell nuclei blue, while eosin stains cytoplasm, connective tissue and other extracellular substances pink or red. Eosin is strongly absorbed by red blood cells, colouring them bright red.

Papanicolaou staining

Papanicolaou staining, or Pap staining, is a frequently used method for examining cell samples from various bodily secretions. It is frequently used to stain the Pap smear specimens. It uses a combination of haematoxylin, Orange G, eosin Y, Light Green SF yellowish, and sometimes Bismarck Brown Y.

PAS staining

Periodic acid-Schiff staining is used to mark carbohydrates (glycogen, glycoprotein, proteoglycans). It is used to distinguish different types of glycogen storage diseases.

Masson's trichrome

Masson's trichrome is (as the name implies) a three-colour staining protocol. The recipe has evolved from Masson's original technique for different specific applications, but all are well-suited to distinguish cells from surrounding connective tissue. Most recipes will produce red keratin and muscle fibers, blue or green staining of collagen and bone, light red or pink staining of cytoplasm, and black cell nuclei.

Romanowsky stains

The Romanowsky stains are all based on a combination of eosinate (chemically reduced eosin) and methylene blue (sometimes with its oxidation products azure A and azure B). Common variants include Wright's stain, Jenner's stain, Leishman stain and Giemsa stain.

All are used to examine blood or bone marrow samples. They are preferred over H&E for inspection of blood cells because different types of leukocytes (white blood cells) can be readily distinguished. All are also suited to examination of blood to detect blood-borne parasites like malaria.

Silver staining

Silver staining is the use of silver to stain histologic sections. This kind of staining is important especially to show proteins (for example type III collagen) and DNA. It is used to show both substances inside and outside cells. Silver staining is also used in temperature gradient gel electrophoresis.

Some cells are argentaffin. These reduce silver solution to metallic silver after formalin fixation. This method was discovered by Italian Camillo Golgi, by using a reaction between silver nitrate and potassium dichromate, thus precipitating silver chromate in some cells (see Golgi's method). Other cells are argyrophilic. These reduce silver solution to metallic silver after being exposed to the stain that contains a reductant, for example hydroquinone or formalin.

Sudan staining

Sudan staining is the use of Sudan dyes to stain sudanophilic substances, usually lipids. Sudan III, Sudan IV, Oil Red O, and Sudan Black B are often used. Sudan staining is often used to determine the level of fecal fat to diagnose steatorrhea.

In vivo staining

In vivo staining is the process of dyeing living tissues—in vivo means "in life" (compare with in vitro staining). By causing certain cells or structures to take on contrasting color(s), their form (morphology) or position within a cell or tissue can be readily seen and studied. The usual purpose is to reveal cytological details that might otherwise not be apparent; however, staining can also reveal where certain chemicals or specific chemical reactions are taking place within cells or tissues.

Often these stains are called vital stains. They are introduced to the organism while the cells are still living. However, these stains are eventually toxic to the organism, some more so than others. To achieve desired effects, the stains are used in very dilute solutions ranging from 1:5,000 to 1:500,000 (Howey, 2000). Note that many stains may be used in both living and fixed cells.

Basic biological stains

Different stains react or concentrate in different parts of a cell or tissue, and these properties are used to advantage to reveal specific parts or areas. Some of the most common biological stains are listed below. Unless otherwise marked, all of these dyes may be used with fixed cells and tissues; vital dyes (suitable for use with living organisms) are noted.

Acridine orange

Acridine orange (AO) is a nucleic acid selective fluorescent cationic dye useful for cell cycle determination. It is cell-permeable, and interacts with DNA and RNA by intercalation or electrostatic attractions. When bound to DNA, it is very similar spectrally to fluorescein.

Bismarck brown

Bismarck brown (also Bismarck brown Y or Manchester brown) imparts a yellow colour to acid mucins. Bismarck brown may be used with live cells.

Carmine

Carmine is an intensely red dye which may be used to stain glycogen, while Carmine alum is a nuclear stain. Carmine stains require the use of a mordant, usually aluminum.

Coomassie blue

Coomassie blue (also brilliant blue) nonspecifically stains proteins a strong blue colour. It is often used in gel electrophoresis.

Crystal violet

Crystal violet, when combined with a suitable mordant, stains cell walls purple. Crystal violet is an important component in Gram staining.

DAPI

DAPI is a fluorescent nuclear stain, excited by ultraviolet light and showing strong blue fluorescence when bound to DNA. DAPI is not visible with regular transmission microscopy. It may be used in living or fixed cells.

Eosin

Eosin is most often used as a counterstain to haematoxylin, imparting a pink or red colour to cytoplasmic material, cell membranes, and some extracellular structures. It also imparts a strong red colour to red blood cells. Eosin may also be used as a counterstain in some variants of Gram staining, and in many other protocols. There are actually two very closely related compounds commonly referred to as eosin. Most often used is eosin Y (also known as eosin Y ws or eosin yellowish); it has a very slightly yellowish cast. The other eosin compound is eosin B (eosin bluish or imperial red); it has a very faint bluish cast. The two dyes are interchangeable, and the use of one or the other is more a matter of preference and tradition.

Ethidium bromide

Ethidium bromide intercalates and stains DNA, providing a fluorescent red-orange stain. Although it will not stain healthy cells, it can be used to identify cells that are in the final stages of apoptosis - such cells have much more permeable membranes. Consequently, ethidium bromide is often used as a marker for apoptosis in cells populations and to locate bands of DNA in gel electrophoresis. The stain may also be used in conjunction with acridine orange (AO) in viable cell counting. This EB/AO combined stain causes live cells to fluoresce green whilst apoptotic cells retain the distinctive red-orange fluorescence.

Fuchsin

Fuchsin may be used to stain collagen, smooth muscle, or mitochondria.

Acid fuchsin is commonly used in Masson's trichrome and van Gieson's picro-fuchsin, and was used in an older method to stain mitochondria.

Haematoxylin

Haematoxylin (hematoxylin in North America) is a nuclear stain. Used with a mordant, haematoxylin stains nuclei blue-violet or brown. It is most often used with eosin in H&E (haematoxylin and eosin) staining—one of the most common procedures in histology.

Hoechst stains

Hoechst is a bis-benzimidazole derivative compound which binds to the minor groove of DNA. Often used in fluorescence microscopy for DNA staining, Hoechst stains appear yellow when dissolved in aqueous solutions and emit blue light under UV excitation. There are two major types of Hoechst: Hoechst 33258 and Hoechst 33342. The two compounds are functionally similar, but with a little difference in structure. Hoechst 33258 contains a terminal hydroxyl group and is thus more soluble in aqueous solution, however this characteristics reduces its ability to penetrate the plasma membrane. Hoechst 33342 contains a ethyl substitution on the terminal hydroxyl group (i.e. an ethylether group) making it more hydrophobic for easier plasma membrane passage.

Iodine

Iodine is used in chemistry as an indicator for starch. When starch is mixed with iodine in solution, an intensely dark blue color develops, representing a starch/iodine complex. Starch is a substance common to most plant cells and so a weak iodine solution will stain starch present in the cells. Iodine is one component in the staining technique known as Gram staining, used in microbiology.

Lugol's solution or Lugol's iodine (IKI) is a brown solution that turns black in the presence of starches and can be used as a cell stain, making the cell nuclei more visible.

Malachite green

Malachite green (also known as diamond green B or victoria green B) can be used as a blue-green counterstain to safranin in the Gimenez staining technique for bacteria. It also can be used to directly stain spores.

Methyl green

Methyl green is chemically related to crystal violet, sporting an extra methyl or ethyl group.

Methylene blue

Methylene blue is used to stain animal cells, such as human cheek cells, to make their nuclei more observable.

Neutral red

Neutral red (or toluylene red) stains nuclei red. It is usually used as a counterstain in combination with other dyes.

Nile blue

Nile blue (or Nile blue A) stains nuclei blue. It may be used with living cells.

Nile red

Nile red (also known as Nile blue oxazone) is formed by boiling Nile blue with sulfuric acid. This produces a mix of Nile red and Nile blue. Nile red is a lipophilic stain; it will accumulate in lipid globules inside cells, staining them red. Nile red can be used with living cells.

Osmium tetroxide

Osmium tetroxide is used in optical microscopy to stain lipids. It dissolves in fats, and is reduced by organic materials to elemental osmium, an easily visible black substance.

Rhodamine

Rhodamine is a protein specific fluorescent stain commonly used in fluorescence microscopy.

Safranin

Safranin (or Safranin O) is a nuclear stain. It produces red nuclei, and is used primarily as a counterstain. Safranin may also be used to give a yellow colour to collagen.

Electron microscopy

Similar to light microscopy, stains can be used to selectively highlight cellular structures in transmission electron microscopy. Electron-dense compounds of heavy metals are typically used. For example, phosphotungstic acid is a common negative stain for viruses, nerves, polysaccharides, and other biological tissue materials.

Other chemicals used in electron microscopy staining include ammonium molybdate, cadmium iodide, carbohydrazide, ferric chloride, hexamine, indium trichloride, lanthanum nitrate, lead acetate, lead citrate, lead(II) nitrate, osmium tetroxide, periodic acid, phosphomolybdic acid, potassium ferricyanide, potassium ferrocyanide, Ruthenium Red, silver nitrate, sodium chloroaurate, thallium nitrate, thiosemicarbazide, uranyl acetate, uranyl nitrate, and vanadyl sulfate. [1]

See also

• Derivatization
• Cytology: the study of cells
• Histology: the study of tissues
• Immunohistochemistry: the use of antisera to label specific antigens
• Microscopy
• Article categories for and
• Ruthenium(II) tris(bathophenanthroline disulfonate), a protein dye.

• Vital Staining for Protozoa and Related Temporary Mounting Techniques ~ Howey, 2000

• Speaking of Fixation: Part 1 and Part 2 - by M. Halit Umar

• Photomicrographs of Histology Stains