Luxol Fast Blue MBSN-Levafix Red Violet E-2BL. A combined stain for myelin sheaths and glia fibers.
During investigations of reactive dyes, Levafix Red Violet E-2BL was found suitable for staining of glia fibers. Experiments were carried out on 37% formaldehyde-fixed human autopsy material. Paraffin sections were treated with Luxol Fast Blue MBSN as usual, differentiated until glia fibers were decolorized, and counter-stained in a 0.25% solution of Levafix Red Violet E-2BL in 0.25% acetic acid. Myelin sheaths were colored blue. Gila fibers, smooth muscle cells, and nuclei were stained red violet. Axons and connective tissue remained unstained; occasionally, coarse bundles of collagen showed patchy coloration. Polarization microscopic studies proved that Levafix Red Violet E-2BL is bound to well-oriented fibrous proteins in glia fibers. The similar staining and polarization microscopic properties of glia fibers and smooth muscle support previous findings that glia fibers contain a myosin-like protein.
D001921:Brain / Q000166:cytology; D002467:Cell Nucleus; D004396:Coloring Agents; D006651:Histocytochemistry; D006801:Humans; D008859:Microscopy, Polarization; D009130:Muscle, Smooth / Q000166:cytology; D009186:Myelin Sheath / Q000166:cytology*; D009218:Myosins / Q000032:analysis; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D009457:Neuroglia / Q000166:cytology*; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000166:cytology; D013194:Staining and Labeling
D004396:Coloring Agents; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D009218:Myosins