The hematoxylin (in Greek haimatus: blood and xylon: wood) is a natural compound from the leguminous Haematoxylum campechianum. The hematoxylin has to be oxidized into hematein to be used as a dye, and then combined with a metal, which works as a mordant. The hematoxylin oxidation may be oxidant substances or by the air oxygen, that takes longer. It is the hematein the dye that shows affinity for acid cellular components, such as the chromatin of the nucleus. The hematoxylin-eosin staining is probably the most widely used in histology labs as a general staining technique. Hematoxylin is also part of other staining protocols, as in the thrichrome procedures for staining nuclei.
Mayer's hematoxylin is one of the hematoxylin solutions commonly used in the hematoxylin-eosine procedures. It is a progressive staining, that is, the intensity of the color gets stronger with the staining time.
Procedure
1000 ml distilled water
50 g aluminium potassium sulfate or alumnium ammonium sulfate.
1 g (C.I. 75290)
0.2 sodium iodate
1 g cictric acid
50 g chloral hydrate
Notes
Add the sulfate and make sure it is completely dissolved before adding the hematoxylin. The citric acid, chloral hydrate and sodium iodate are added after the hematoxylin is dissolved. Then boil the solution for 5 min, cool it and filter it. It can be used immediately.
Products
Distilled water
Hematoxylin (C.I. 75290)
Sodium iodate
Citric acid
Chloral hydrate
Labware
Test tube
Balance
Stirring hot plate
Flasks
Bottles