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Stains or dyes are used in biological and medical disciplines to highlight cell structures and organelles, cells, or tissues for viewing, usually with an instrument such as a microscope. 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, in vitro staining can also reveal where certain chemicals or specific chemical reactions are taking place within cells or tissues. More 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 of these stains are also used as in vitro stains.
1 Basic biological vital 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.
1.1 Crystal violet
Crystal Violet
1.2 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 nucleiIn cell biology, the nucleus is an organelle, found in most eukaryotic cells, which contains most of the cell's genetic material. Nuclei have two primary functions: to control chemical reactions within the cytoplasm and to store information needed for cel more visible.
1.3 Methylene blue
Methylene blueMethylene Blue methylthionine chloride or 3,7-bis(dimethylamino)phenothiazin-5-ium chloride is a chemical compound used as a dye and medication for Gram's stain, Wright stain, and the treatment of methemoglobinemia. Its molecular formula is C H Cl N S. is used to stain animal cells, such as human cheek cells, to make their nuclei more observable. It is less toxic than iodine, for example.
1.4 Nile blue
1.5 Rhodamine
RhodamineRhodamine is a family of related chemical compounds. Examples are Rhodamine 6G and Rhodamine B. It is used as a dye and as a laser material. Rhodamine dyes are in general toxic.
1.6 Others
Bismarck Brown
Malachite Green
Carmine Alum
Eosin Yellowish
Methyl Green
Neutral Red
Hematoxylin
Safranin
2 See also
- Gram staining
- Staining onion cells without methylene blueIntroduction Methylene Blue may not be suited for storing in classrooms (of especially younger students) due to health hazards if swallowed. The following method allows for a nice staining of onion cell nuclei using normal fountain pen ink. I have used th
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