H&E stain

The hematoxylin- eosin staining often abbreviated as HE staining, is a dyeing method in histology, with the various structures of a histological section can be stained. It is used to distinguish between different tissue structures in the microscopic image based on two different single dyes and is one of the most widely used Routinefärbemethoden for morphological studies. In pathology, pathological changes in biopsies and surgical specimens can be examined with the help of this overview staining. It lasts depending on the protocols used and staining solutions between five and 45 minutes, and is part of an extensive tissue processing, which includes one to several days. Also in the research finds the HE staining a variety of applications, especially as an overview coloring before preparing of immunohistochemistry to investigate specific aspects.

Hematoxylin is a natural dye from the logwood tree. In order to develop its coloring properties, it must be processed to hematoxylin ( basic Hämateinlack ). Hematoxylin stains all acidic or basophilic structures blue, especially cell nuclei with the contained deoxyribonucleic acid ( DNA) and enriched with ribosomes rough endoplasmic reticulum ( rER, Eng. Rough endoplasmic reticulum ).

Eosin is an acidic dye and synthetic colors all acidophilic or alkaline ( eosinophilic ) red structures, especially cell plasma proteins, mitochondria, the smooth endoplasmic reticulum (SER, Eng. Smooth endoplasmic reticulum ) and collagen.

After the H- staining nuclei initially appear reddish - brown due to the low pH of the staining solution. By increasing the pH ( blueing ) suggests the coloring around in the typical blue-violet; this is often caused simply by rinsing in tap water, but there are also special buffer solutions for this purpose (Scott - buffer ) because the waterworks reserve the right to chlorinate the water as needed, and the chlorine destroys the color. This is followed by the cytoplasmic staining in an alcoholic or aqueous solution of eosin. By further rinsing steps on alcohol solutions in ascending concentrations up to absolute alcohol, the water is forced out of the tissue section. Finally, the dewatered section will be clarified in an organic solvent such as xylene and can now be covered with a mounting medium and a coverslip. So cut and coloring are preserved for decades and examined under the microscope.