A MODIFIED TRICHROME STAIN FOR LIGHT MICROSCOPIC EXAMINATION OF PLASTIC-EMBEDDED CORNEAL TISSUE

Corneal histopathology is essential to understanding the mechanisms of corneal disease and wound healing. We have developed a light microsco pic trichrome stain for 1-mum, aldehyde-fixed, osmicated, epon/resin-e mbedded corneal sections. The stain consists of azure II, methylene bl ue, and basic fuchsin. This combination of stains provides a fast and effective method to clearly differentiate corneal cells from their sur rounding extracellular matrix, and chromatically separates various ECM materials within the cornea. Correlative examination by light and tra nsmission electron microscopy (TEM) provides multilevel understanding of corneal morphology and ultrastructure. Tissues examined using this staining procedure may be subsequently examined by TEM for ultrastruct ural morphology. This stain has proved beneficial in our research of b oth cellular and extracellular constituents of the cornea.