IRON GALLEIN ELASTIC METHOD - SUBSTITUTE FOR VERHOEFFS ELASTIC TISSUE STAIN

A method for staining elastic fibers in formalin fixed, paraffin embedded sections is described. After deparaffinizing and dehydration, sections are stained for 30 min in a solution prepared by mixing equal parts of 1% gallein dissolved in ethylene glycol and absolute alcohol (1:4) and 1.16% aqueous ferric chloride in 1% hydrochloric acid. The sections are washed in water and then differentiated in 2% ferric chloride for 2 min. After washing in water, the sections are counterstained with a varient of Van Gieson''s picric acid-acid fuchsin for 1 min. The results are similar to Verhoeff''s elastic stain with elastic fibers staining black. An advantage to this staining procedure is that visually controlled differentiation is not necessary. [Human autopsy sections of aorta, bronchus, kidney, lung, skin and small intestine were used in this study.].