Staining is crucial in brightfield microscopy to enhance contrast and highlight specific components of the tissue. Some commonly used stains include:
- Hematoxylin and Eosin (H&E): The most widely used stain in histology, where hematoxylin stains nuclei blue, and eosin stains cytoplasm and extracellular matrix pink. - Masson's Trichrome: Used for differentiating between collagen and muscle fibers. - Periodic Acid-Schiff (PAS): Stains carbohydrates and glycogen magenta.
