I would like to know if it is possible to stain an organ before paraffin embedding. I’m working with fetal rat lung explant cultures (E14 +7) to investigate lung development in vitro. After 7 days of culture (air liquid interface on a thincert membrane) I fix them with 4 % formaldehyde solution (overnight) and on the next day I start with the embedding procedure. The problem is that the lungs are very tiny and with their white color you can barely see them at the end in the paraffin block. Is it possible to stain the lungs with i.e. eosin after fixation and before embedding so that I can localize them much easier? Thanks in advance!
Dear Janine,
When I have faced questions as the one that you have now, and if I have had several specimens, then I have tried different methods. I never have lost a specimen by doing so, but I have learned from this. Thus, I suggest that you try both methods and experience by yourself the results of each preparation.
Best wishes,
Gloria
Hi Janine,
Yes you can stain the tissue in an eosin solution or there are commercially available tissue dyes in a variety of colours. We have used them routinely for embedding needle core biopsies and, using a pipette, just drop the dye onto the tissue.
Just make sure you use a stain that will survive the processing and that isn't likely to impair any further tissue staining required.
Good luck,
Sarah
Hi Janine,
After I cultured individual mouse ovarian follicles I stained them with eosin after fixation but prior to embedding so that I could visualise them during the embedding process (and hopefully not loose any!). I just added eosin powder to the first 70% EtOH used to dehydrate the tissue right after fixation. I didn't use a measured amount of eosin powder, just enough to make the EtOH a dark pink colour. It worked perfectly! And after I cut the sections and stained with H&E there was no adverse effect on the staining of the sections.
Good luck
Aimee
Hello,
in the routine pathology lab i work we put Eosin solution in our 4%NBF. So if you put your lung cells in 4%NBF ( mixed with eosin ) over night your tissue is coloured. 1 Step.
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