Various staining techniques are used to enhance the visibility of cellular structures:
Hematoxylin and Eosin (H&E): The most widely used stain, highlighting nuclei in blue and cytoplasm in pink. Periodic Acid-Schiff (PAS): Stains carbohydrates and mucins, useful for identifying fungal infections and glycogen storage diseases. Masson's Trichrome: Differentiates between muscle, collagen, and fibrin, commonly used in liver and kidney biopsies. Immunohistochemistry (IHC): Uses antibodies to detect specific antigens, aiding in the diagnosis of cancers and infectious diseases.
