H & E STAINING
PREPARED BY MR. ABHIJIT DAS
Hematoxylin and Eosin (H&E) staining is the most
widely used stain in histopathology for examining
tissue structure and cellular detail.
PRINCIPLE:
- Haematoxylin:
A basic dye that stains acidic structures (like nuclei) blue to purple.
- Eosin:
An acidic dye that stains basic structures (cytoplasm,
connective tissue, etc.) pink to red.
PROCEDURE:
1.
Fixation:
Tissue is fixed (commonly with formalin) to preserve morphology.
2.
Dehydration:
Tissue sections are dehydrated using alcohol.
3.
Clearing:
Xylene is used to clear the tissue and make
it transparent.
4.
Haematoxylin Staining:
Tissue sections are stained with haematoxylin to highlight the nuclei.
5.
Differentiation:
Excess haematoxylin is removed.
6.
Eosin Staining:
Tissue is stained with eosin to colour the cytoplasm and connective tissues.
7.
Dehydration and Clearing:
Tissue is again dehydrated and cleared with xylene.
8.
Mounting:
A coverslip is applied to preserve the
stained tissue.
RESULTS:
- Nuclei:
Blue/purple (stained by haematoxylin).
- Cytoplasm,
Muscle Fibers, and Connective Tissue: Pink/red
(stained by eosin).
IMPORTANCE:
- Allows
clear differentiation of cellular structures.
- Commonly
used for diagnosing diseases like cancer,
tissue inflammation, and infections.
CONCLUSION:
H&E staining is crucial for histopathological
examination, providing detailed insights into tissue architecture and cell
morphology.