Block Staining with Hematoxylin, Gelatin Embedding and Serial Sectioning of Decalcified Bone

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Decalcified pieces of bone can be stained prior to sectioning by washing and placing in undiluted Harris' hematoxylin (potassium alum). This stains the borders and contents of Haversian canals, lacunar margins, osteocyte nuclei, cementing lines and canaliculi. Embedding in 15% gelatin gives a flexibility which allows mounting of large numbers of serial sections with a minimum of tearing and folding. Frozen sections from the microtome knife are placed in water-filled depressions of chemists' porcelain spot plates, or other containers in the case of large sections. Long pieces of bone can be cut into smaller blocks, which are placed in additional gelatin. This allows complete sectioning of the block and examination of structures continuing throughout the bone.

This publication has 0 references indexed in Scilit: