A facile, reliable method for staining blood vessel endothelium.
A modification of the silver-based stain for outlining endothelial cell borders of rabbit aorta is described. The present method uses ammonium sulfide in place of exposure to light to develop the stain. Rabbit aortic rings were sequentially immersed in 280 mM dextrose, 15 mM silver nitrate, 280 mM dextrose, dilute ammonium sulfide, and 280 mM dextrose solutions. They were then cut open and mounted on microscope slides with glycerin jelly. The procedure is rapid, easily mastered, and suited for use in most pharmacology laboratories. The resulting preparations can be viewed under reflected or transmitted light.
D000818:Animals; D001011:Aorta / Q000166:cytology; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000166:cytology*; D011817:Rabbits; D013194:Staining and Labeling / Q000379:methods