Rapid Toluidine Blue Staining of Epon-Embedded and Mounted "Adjacent" Sections

Abstract

A simple, rapid (10-30 sec) staining and mounting technique for 0.5-2.0 micron plastic "adjacent" sections is described in detail. The stain, warm 0.2% toluidine blue in 2.5% Na2 CO3 produces an intense variably metachromatic staining. The sections are mounted in the same resin as that in which they were embedded, thus added resolution is gained. The method has proven useful as a transition technique between conventional light microscopic and electron microscopic methods of tissue examination.