Brillmeyer's Trichrome
for Muscle and Collagen
Materials
Solution A
| Material | Amount | |
|---|---|---|
| Acid fuchsin | 0.2 | g |
| Distilled water | 100 | mL |
Solution B
| Material | Amount | |
|---|---|---|
| Aniline blue | 0.5 | g |
| Orange G | 2 | g |
| Phosphomolybdic acid | 1 | g |
| Distilled water | 100 | mL |
Tissue Sample
5µ paraffin sections of neutral buffered formalin fixed tissue are suitable. Other fixatives are likely to be satisfactory. Most trichrome stains benefit from picric acid or mercuric chloride fixation.
Protocol
- Bring sections to water via xylene and ethanol.
- Stain with an acid resistant nuclear stain.
- Place into solution A for 1 minute.
- Drain.
- Place into solution B for 2-3 hours.
- Wash briefly with distilled water.
- Dehydrate with ethanol.
- Clear with xylene and mount with a resinous medium.
Expected Results
- Nuclei – blue or black
- Erythrocytes – yellow
- Cytoplasm – red
- Collagen – blue
Notes
- The original technique recommended nuclear staining in Delafield’s alum hematoxylin, with blueing.
- Weiss modified this method to shorten the time required.
Safety Note
Prior to handling any chemical, consult the Safety Data Sheet (SDS) for proper handling and safety precautions.
References
- Gray, Peter. (1954)
The Microtomist’s Formulary and Guide.
Originally published by: The Blakiston Co.
Republished by: Robert E. Krieger Publishing Co.
