The Histochemical Detection of iron in Tissues

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Abstract
The fixation and staining of Fe in tissues is discussed. Procedures for demonstrating Fe in hemoglobin and nuclei are also briefly considered. Lillie''s formalin buffered at neutrality gave the opt. fixation for Fe. The Prussian blue method was preferred to the Turnbull blue. Lison''s procedure of the former, slightly modified, gave the most satisfactory results. When a procedure is required that employs non-Fe-con-taining reagents, Macallum''s or Mallory''s hematoxylin and Quincke''s ammonium sulfide method are useful. The former, though not entirely specific, is preferable under controlled con-ditions when the quantities of Fe are small. Hemoglobin-Fe in paraffin sections can be demonstrated by the usual procedures for Fe after previous exposure of the section to peroxide, as recommended by Brown. The property of nuclei to adsorb Fe from inorganic sources and from hemoglobin can readily be shown; caution is required in interpreting the Fe detected in nuclei after Macallum''s sulfuric acid hydrolysis.