H&E stain

H&E stain or Hematoxylin and Eosin stain is a popular staining method in histology. It is named after the dyes hematoxylin and eosin, which it uses. Hematoxylin, which stains nuclei blue-purple, and eosin, which stains cytoplasm and the extracellular connective tissue matrix pink, are used.

Overview

H&E staining is used to examine tissues under a microscope and is one of the most commonly used stains in medical diagnosis. For example, it is often used to diagnose cancer. A pathologist will look at the tissue sample under a microscope and make a diagnosis based on the size, shape, and organization of the cells.

Procedure

The procedure for H&E staining is as follows:

1. The tissue is fixed in a substance such as formalin to preserve it.
2. The tissue is then cut into thin slices, or sections. These sections are placed on a glass slide.
3. The slide is then stained with hematoxylin, which stains the cell nuclei blue.
4. The slide is then stained with eosin, which stains the cytoplasm and connective tissue pink.
5. The slide is then examined under a microscope.

Interpretation

The interpretation of H&E staining involves looking at the size, shape, and organization of the cells. Normal cells are uniform in size and shape, and are organized in a predictable pattern. Cancer cells, on the other hand, are often larger than normal cells, are irregular in shape, and are not organized in a predictable pattern.

See also

• Histology
• Cancer
• Pathology
• Microscope

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