Gomori's Aldehyde Fuchsin

Solutions

Solution A
Basic fuchsin	1	g
Paraldehyde, fresh	1	mL
Hydrochloric acid, conc.	1	mL
Ethanol, 70%	200	mL

Dissolve the dye in the ethanol.

Add paraldehyde and hydrochloric acid.

Ripen at room temperature for 48-72 hours.

Refrigerate. The solution is stable for 2-3 months.

Tissue sample
5µ paraffin sections of neutral buffered formalin fixed tissue are suitable. Other fixatives are likely to be satisfactory.

Method

1. Bring sections to water via xylene and ethanol.
2. Wash with water.
3. Rinse with 70% ethanol.
4. Place in the staining solution for 10 minutes.
5. Rinse well with 95% ethanol.
6. Counterstain the nuclei and/or the cytoplasm if wished.
7. Dehydrate with ethanol, clear with xylene and mount with a resinous medium.

Expected results

• Elastic fibres  –  purple
• Mast cells  –  purple
• Pituitary βcells  –  purple
• Sulphated mucins  –  purple
• Background  –  as the counterstain
• Nuclei  –  as the nuclear stain

Notes

1. The basic fuchsin used for this solution should be one that is suitable for Schiff's reagent, i.e., it should have a high pararosanilin content. Both methods involve forming a compound between an aldehyde and dye.
2. Light counterstaining with a progressive alum hematoxylin and eosin is also suitable.
3. Many other counterstains can be used, including methods such as Masson's trichrome.
4. Gabe described a technique for the preparation and use of aldehyde fuchsin powder.

 

Reference
Drury, R.A.B. and Wallington, E.A., (1980)
Carleton's histological technique Ed. 5
Oxford University Press, Oxford, UK.