Preservation of Trypan Blue and Neutral Red Within the Cells of Loose Connective Tissue

Abstract

Trypan blue granules within the histiocytes and neutral red stained granules within the mast cells of the same areolar tissue spread can be preserved in their original colored state by the following method: fix in 10% formalin for 12–24 hours; rinse in distilled water; place in two changes of dioxan for 5–10 minutes each (overnight in second change will not hurt); mount from the second dioxan using diaphane dissolved in dioxan as a mounting medium, or clear in xylene and mount in balsam. No dye is lost, and no cellular distortion occurs. Fast green is used as a counterstain (1% aqueous plus 0.2% acetic acid). Stain ½ to 1 minute and rinse.