Application of Levanol fast cyanine 5RN stain for demonstrating rhabdomyoblasts in epoxy‐embedded tumors

Abstract

To facilitate the survey of actomyosin-containing cells in soft tissue sarcomas with skeletal muscle differentiation, the tannic acid-phosphomolybdic acid-Levanol fast cyanine 5RN procedure was applied to plastic-free (deresined) thick sections (2-3 microns) obtained from epoxy blocks conventially prepared for transmission electron microscopy. By light microscopy, rhabdomyoblasts of varying configuration revealed intense dark blue staining reaction. The stained sections were used for orientation and direct interpretation of the ultrastructural material.

A Modification of Mayer's Tannic Acid-Ferric Chloride Staining Method for Demonstrating Cellular Membranous Systems for Light Microscopy

“…Alternatively, tannic acid has been used as a mordant, which combines with and fixes the dyes onto tissue compounds that cannot be stained directly (El-Bardaie 1993).…”