甲苯胺蓝 (Toluidine Blue O) 是一种常用的人工合成染料,属于醌亚胺染料类,这类染料主要含有胺基和醌型苯环两个发色团,从而成色原显色。甲苯胺蓝中的阳离子有染色作用,组织细胞的酸性物质与其中的阳离子相结合而被染色,甲苯胺蓝还含有两个助色团,能促使染料产生电离成盐类,帮助发色团对组织产生染色力,使切片上的组织细胞着色,可染细胞核使之呈蓝色;另外肥大细胞胞质内含有肝素和组织胺等异色性物质,遇到甲苯胺蓝可呈异染性紫红色,临床上经常用Toluidine Blue O Stain (1%, 磷酸盐法) 对软骨细胞和肥大细胞进行染色。该试剂仅用于科研领域,不宜用于临床诊断或其他用途。
自备材料:
蒸馏水或去离子水、系列乙醇、冰乙酸、丙酮
二甲苯或环保脱蜡透明液、中性树胶
操作步骤(仅供参考):
(一)肥大细胞染色
1、脱蜡至蒸馏水。
2、根据切片厚度和组织的不同,浸染于甲苯胺蓝染色液5~30min。
3、蒸馏水或去离子水轻轻冲洗3~5min。
4、(可选)0.5%冰乙酸分化,直到细胞核和颗粒清晰可见。
5、快速95%和无水乙醇脱水,二甲苯或脱蜡透明液透明,封固。
染色结果:肥大细胞呈紫红色;背景呈淡蓝色。
(二)软骨染色
1、石蜡切片入二甲苯2次,每次15min。
2、系列乙醇各1min,自来水洗2min。
3、入 Toluidine Blue O Stain 浸染10~15min。
4、自来水洗2min,滤纸吸干水分,丙酮分化至软骨细胞呈紫蓝色清楚可见。
5、逐级乙醇脱水,二甲苯或脱蜡透明液透明,中性树胶封固。
染色结果:软骨、成骨细胞呈紫红色;背景呈淡蓝色。
(三)细胞涂片染色
1、用20%的乙醇溶液稀释甲苯胺蓝染色液,一般要求稀释到0.1%即可。
2、细胞涂片后,立即放入95%的乙醇中固定15s,取出放在纸巾上。
3、滴加1~2滴稀释后的甲苯胺蓝染色液进行滴染,加盖玻片让染料渗透到细胞中。
4、10~15s后将玻片竖起,稍加压力,使多余染料被纸巾吸去,无需干燥,直接镜检。
染色结果:细胞核、淋巴细胞呈深蓝色;核仁呈紫红色;红细胞呈橘红;细胞质、单核细胞呈淡蓝色。
(四)原位杂交染色
1、 用蒸馏水或去离子水稀释到相应的浓度,凭经验一般稀释比例大于1:100。
2、 玻片在稀释好的染色液中短暂浸泡。
3、 在蒸馏水或去离子水浸泡数次。
4、 按需求进行压片固定。
染色结果:原位杂交阳性部位呈深蓝色 / 紫蓝色,细胞核淡蓝色,背景干净无色。
注意事项:
1、针对于胃粘膜组织、软骨组织等较难着色组织的染色,浸染于甲苯胺蓝染色液的时间应相应延长。
2、为了您的安全和健康,请穿实验服并戴一次性手套操作。
Toluidine Blue O is a commonly used synthetic dye belonging to the quinone-imine dye class. Dyes of this category mainly contain two chromophores, namely amino groups and quinoid benzene rings, which form chromogens to produce color. The cations in toluidine blue are responsible for the staining effect; acidic substances in tissue cells combine with these cations to be stained. Toluidine blue also contains two auxochromes that can promote the ionization of the dye into salts, helping chromophores exert staining power on tissues and thus coloring the tissue cells on the sections—it can stain cell nuclei to appear blue. In addition, the cytoplasm of mast cells contains metachromatic substances such as heparin and histamine, which will turn metachromatic purple-red when exposed to toluidine blue. Clinically, 1% Toluidine Blue O Stain (phosphate method) is often used to stain chondrocytes and mast cells. This reagent is for research use only and is not suitable for clinical diagnosis or other purposes.
Materials to Be Prepared by the User:
Distilled water or deionized water, graded ethanol solutions, glacial acetic acid, acetone,
xylene or environment-friendly deparaffinizing clearing solution, neutral balsam
Operating Procedures (For Reference Only):
(I) Mast Cell Staining
1. Deparaffinize sections to distilled water.
2. Immerse the sections in toluidine blue staining solution for 5–30 minutes, depending on section thickness and tissue type.
3. Rinse gently with distilled water or deionized water for 3–5 minutes.
4. (Optional) Differentiate with 0.5% glacial acetic acid until cell nuclei and granules are clearly visible.
5. Dehydrate rapidly with 95% ethanol and anhydrous ethanol, clear with xylene or deparaffinizing clearing solution, and mount.
Staining Results: Mast cells appear purple-red; background appears pale blue.
(II) Cartilage Staining
1. Place paraffin sections in xylene twice, 15 minutes each time.
2. Treat with graded ethanol solutions for 1 minute each, then rinse with tap water for 2 minutes.
3. Immerse in Toluidine Blue O Stain for 10–15 minutes.
4. Rinse with tap water for 2 minutes, blot dry with filter paper, and differentiate with acetone until chondrocytes are clearly visible as purple-blue.
5. Dehydrate with graded ethanol solutions step by step, clear with xylene or deparaffinizing clearing solution, and mount with neutral balsam.
Staining Results: Cartilage and osteoblasts appear purple-red; background appears pale blue.
(III) Cell Smear Staining
1. Dilute toluidine blue staining solution with 20% ethanol solution; generally, a dilution to 0.1% is required.
2. Immediately after preparing the cell smear, fix it in 95% ethanol for 15 seconds, then remove and place on absorbent paper.
3. Add 1–2 drops of the diluted toluidine blue staining solution for drop staining, and cover with a coverslip to allow the dye to penetrate the cells.
4. After 10–15 seconds, stand the slide upright and apply slight pressure to absorb excess dye with absorbent paper. Observe under a microscope directly without drying.
Staining Results: Cell nuclei and lymphocytes appear dark blue; nucleoli appear purple-red; red blood cells appear orange-red; cytoplasm and monocytes appear pale blue.
(IV) In Situ Hybridization Staining
1. Dilute the staining solution to the appropriate concentration with distilled water or deionized water; the dilution ratio is generally more than 1:100 based on experience.
2. Briefly immerse the glass slides in the diluted staining solution.
3. Soak the slides in distilled water or deionized water several times.
4. Perform squashing and fixation as required.
Staining Result: Positive signals of in situ hybridization appear dark blue/ violet blue, nuclei are light blue, and the background is clean and colorless.
Precautions:
1. For staining hard-to-stain tissues such as gastric mucosal tissue and cartilage tissue, the immersion time in toluidine blue staining solution should be appropriately prolonged.
2. For your safety and health, wear a lab coat and disposable gloves during operation.