Image description Light microscope image of a paraffin section (on a glass slide) of rat tongue stained with platinum blue 3), 4).
Figure No.000002b
Staining: Platinum-blue staining
Microscope: LVSEM Sample: Paraffin section
Accelerating voltage: 15 kV
Magnification: ×50 Scale bar: 100 μm
Image description LVSEM image of the paraffin section (on a glass slide) depicted in Fig. 000002a 3), 4).
Characteristic findings
Platinum blue is unique in that it functions as both a “backscattered electron signal enhancer” and a “histologically specific stain.” Differences in staining intensity produce varied shades of blue under a light microscope, whereas they produce a light-dark contrast under a LVSEM. These characteristics of platinum blue facilitate the identification of different types of cells and tissues. Furthermore, unlike light microscopes, LVSEMs allow for the use of platinum blue–stained paraffin sections to capture three-dimensional high-magnification images for morphologic analysis 3), 4).
Observations
Animal tissue samples stained with platinum blue show histologically specific staining that results from differences in the staining intensity of various cellular and tissue components. Thus, samples are characterized by differing shades of blue under a light microscope (Fig. 000002a) and as three-dimensional structures exhibiting light-dark contrast under a LVSEM (Fig. 000002b). These features facilitate the characterization of cells and tissues. In addition, when using a LVSEM, the scale of magnification can be increased up to several tens of thousands. This enables a more detailed analysis of the three-dimensional structures of cells and tissues. Stained images of cells and tissues can be roughly classified as follows: