A Selective Stain for Elastic Tissue (Orcinol-New Fuchsin)

A selective stain for elastic tissue (designated orcinol-new fuchsin) is described. Two grams of new fuchsin (C.I. No. 678) and 4 gm of orcinol (highest purity) are added to 200 ml of distilled water and the solution boiled for 5 min. Then 25 ml ferric chloride solution (U.S.P. IX) are added and the solution is boiled 5 min longer. The precipitate is collected and dissolved in 100 ml 95% ethanol. This is the staining solution. Sections are deparaffinized and brought to absolute ethanol, stained for 15 min at 37 °C with orcinol-new fuchsin, differentiated for 15 min in 70% ethanol, dehydrated, cleared and covered as usual.