Protocol
Lillie's Allochrome
Materials
- 1% Aqueous periodic acid
- Schiff’s reagent
- Weigert’s iron hematoxylin
- Picro-methyl blue
Material Amount Saturated aqueous picric acid 100 mL 1% aqueous methyl blue 0.4 mL
Tissue Sample
5 µ paraffin sections. Most fixatives are satisfactory, including 10% NBF, but those generally considered preferable for trichrome stains will be advantageous.
Protocol
- Bring sections to water via xylene and ethanol.
- Do a PAS stain, but do not counterstain.
- Stain nuclei with Weigert’s iron hematoxylin or equivalent.
- Wash well in tap water, rinse with distilled water.
- Place into picro-methyl blue for 6 minutes.
- Rinse well with 95% ethanol.
- Dehydrate with absolute ethanol.
- Clear with xylene and mount with a resinous medium.
Expected Results
- Nuclei – Brown-black
- Collagen & reticulin – blue
- Cytoplasm & muscle – yellow
- PAS positive structures – red
Safety Note
Prior to handling any chemical, consult the Safety Data Sheet (SDS) for proper handling and safety precautions.
References
- Histological demonstration techniques, (1974)
Cook, H C.
Butterworths, London, England
