Harris hematoxylin

Description

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Harris' hematoxylin is a natural dye obtained from the heartwood of the dyewood tree, scientifically known as Haematoxylin campechianum or Logwood. This tree is native to tropical regions of Central and South America, and its heartwood contains hematoxylin, a chemical compound that has the ability to bind to cellular structures and tissues, making it a valuable component in histology and cytology especially in the field of tissue and cell staining.

For Hematoxylin to become a functional dye, it undergoes an oxidation process that transforms it into hematoxylin. Hematein is the active form of Hematoxylin and is responsible for binding to cellular structures, allowing microscopic details to be accurately revealed in tissue preparations or biological samples.

Harris hematoxylin is a commonly used histological stain, particularly in the field of pathology. The main uses are the following:

-Nuclei staining: used to stain the nuclei of cells blue or violet, making them visible under a microscope. This is crucial for examining tissue structures and identifying abnormalities.

-In H&E staining, hematoxylin stains nuclei blue, while eosin stains cytoplasm and other structures pink, providing contrast and allowing detailed analysis of the tissue.

-Tissue Differentiation: Helps differentiate various types of tissues and cellular structures, helping in the identification of different cell types, pathological changes and disease markers.

-Can be used in quantitative analysis, such as counting cells or measuring staining intensity in research studies.