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A student can use a stain called methylene blue to make nuclei more visible under a microscope. Methylene blue is commonly used in biology and histology to stain cells and highlight structures like nuclei.
To make a methylene blue solution, you can dissolve methylene blue powder in water at a desired concentration. The typical concentrations range from 0.1% to 1%. Make sure to use proper safety precautions, such as wearing gloves and protective eyewear, as methylene blue can stain skin and clothing.
Leishman stain is a Romanowsky stain used in microscopy to differentiate blood cells and microorganisms. It contains methylene blue and eosin Y dyes which stain different cellular components. Methylene blue stains acidic structures like the nuclei, while eosin Y stains basic structures like cytoplasm and organelles.
Hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) stain is commonly used in histology to differentiate between cell nuclei (stained blue/purple with hematoxylin) and cytoplasm (stained pink/red with eosin). Other specialized stains like Periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) stain, Masson's trichrome stain, and immunohistochemical stains can also be used to highlight specific tissue components or cell types in histological samples.
A methylene blue skin stain typically lasts for a few hours to a day, although it can vary based on the concentration used and individual skin characteristics. The stain can fade faster with rubbing or washing the area.