MED 7: HISTOPATHOLOGY AND CYTOLOGIC TECHNIQUES

Group Activity 5: Different Stains for Different Purposes

MR. CHRISTIAN MARK N. VICMUDO – COLLEGE OF NURSING AND ALLIED HEALTH SCIENCES
2nd TERM | A.Y. 2022-2023

Group 2: Staining of Lipids - Chapter 19

Stain Description/Use Results
• Predominantly used for staining triglycerides
in animal tissues (frozen sections). Lipids: Orange-red
Sudan III • Could also be used to stain some protein
bound lipids in paraffin sections with the help
of certain solvents
• The most sensitive and versatile among all
dyes. Lipids: Blue black
• Used for staining phospholipids as well as Nuclei: Red
Sudan Black B neutral fats.
• Does not stain crystalline cholesterol, and
free fatty acids tend to be dissolved in the
alcoholic dye bath.
• Used for staining fats with a more brilliant or
deeper red color than Sudan III which stains Lipids (mainly
Sudan IV lipids orange-red. triglycerides): Red
(Scharlach R) • Recommended for staining triglycerides Nuclei: Blue/black
(neutral lipids), giving them a deep and
intense red stain.
• Used to demonstrate the presence of fat or
lipids in fresh, frozen tissue sections. Lipid: Red
Oil Red O
• Stains neutral fats and lipofuscin well. Nuclei: Blue

• Used to stain fatty substances containing one

or more unsaturated fatty acid radicals. Nuclei: Yellow-orange
• Osmium tetroxide is an unstable oxide that Fats: Black
may be permanently converted to a black
material when exposed to unsaturated lipids
and fatty acids.
• Utilized as a fixative in electron microscopy
Osmic Acid Stain
and histochemistry, and it is also utilized for
the demonstration of unsaturated fats;
however, it has the disadvantage of allowing
other substances to be stained
simultaneously.
 • An excellent stain that is present as a minor
component of commercial preparations of the Lipid globules: Red
non-fluorescent lipid stain Nile blue.
• If proper spectral conditions are chosen, it
can serve as a sensitive vital stain for the
Nile Red Stain
detection of cytoplasmic lipid droplets.
• Provides resolution of cytoplasmic lipid
droplets in tissues equal to, if not better than,
that obtained with the non-fluorescent dye Oil
red 0.

Submitted by Group 2
Espinosa, Abigail
Gonzales, Rhia Lalaine
Indidaño, Robbie
Llabres, Olive Leyn
Valentin, Franscine Nicole