Staining reticulin in beef dorsal lymph nodes for electron microscopy

Abstract

Reticulin has been classically identified by virtue of its argyrophilia, as observed by light microscopy. The similiarity between reticulin and collagen has been a matter for considerable discussion. This paper describes the application of a silver-staining procedure which demonstrates the fine structure of these fibres when studied by electron microscopy, giving a direct indication of the morphological identity of the argyrophilic structures, i.e. reticulin, with collagen. Beef lymph node tissue was used for this study.