Several stains are commonly used to highlight different tissue components:
Hematoxylin and Eosin (H&E): This is the most frequently used stain in histology. Hematoxylin stains cell nuclei blue, while Eosin stains cytoplasm and extracellular matrix pink. Periodic Acid-Schiff (PAS): This stain highlights carbohydrates in tissues, making it useful for identifying glycogen and mucin. Masson's Trichrome: This stain differentiates between muscle, collagen, and fibrin, with muscle staining red, collagen green or blue, and fibrin red.
