Trichrome Staining for Detection of Amyloid

Abstract

It has been proposed to use trichrome staining of histological sections for the detection of connective tissue fiber and sites for amyloid localization, as well as for increasing color contrast. After incubation in acidin–pepsin solution, sections are dewaxed and successively stained with picrofuchsin according to van Gieson, together with nuclei counterstain with hematoxylin, Congo red, and picroindigocarmine. As a result, the amyloid bound with collagen fibers was stained brick-red, collagen and reticular fibers not bound with amyloid was stained blue-green, and cytoplasm of cells not containing amyloid was stained yellow. Trichrome staining of organs affected by amyloidosis is more informative for the analysis of organs than Congo red stain.