Jan 19, 2020
Histological stains
Basic dyes react with anionic or acidic components in cells. Nucleic acids are acidic, and therefore bind to basic dyes.
Methyl green - stains green
Methylene blue - stains blue
Pyronin G - stains red
Toluidine blue - stains blue
Acidic dyes react with cationic or basic components in cells. Proteins and other components in the cytoplasm are basic, and will bind to acidic dyes. Another way of saying this is that cytoplasmic proteins are acidophilic (acid liking - i.e. bind to acidic dyes).
Acid fuschin - stains red
Aniline blue - stains blue
Orange G - stains orange