What Are the Steps Involved in the Staining Process?
The LFB staining process involves several steps:
1. Fixation: Tissue samples are fixed in a solution, typically formalin, to preserve cellular structures. 2. Sectioning: The fixed tissue is embedded in paraffin and sectioned into thin slices using a microtome. 3. Deparaffinization and Rehydration: The paraffin is removed from the sections, and the tissue is rehydrated through a series of alcohol washes. 4. Staining: The sections are immersed in Luxol Fast Blue solution, usually overnight. 5. Differentiation: Excess dye is removed using an alcohol solution, which differentiates myelin from other tissue components. 6. Counterstaining: To enhance contrast, a counterstain such as Cresyl Violet or Periodic Acid-Schiff (PAS) may be applied. 7. Dehydration and Mounting: The stained sections are dehydrated and mounted on slides for microscopic examination.
