The effect of some fixatives on the staining ability of <i>Sorghum bicolor</i> extracts on tissue sections

Abstract

The effect of some fixatives on the staining reactions of the extracts of Sorghum bicolor on tissue sections was studied in order to identify the most appropriate fixative for the stain. Tissue sections taken at postmortem were fixed in 10% formol saline, Carnoy’s fluid, Bouin’s fluid, Formol sublimate, Heidenhain’s susa and Zenker’s fixative. The sections were subsequently stained with Weigert’s haematoxylin and counterstained in acidified and neutral alcoholic extracts of S. bicolor. The staining
reactions after the use of all fixatives were the same; collagen fibres, muscles and red blood cells were stained in shades of pinkish-yellow. The active staining constituent of S. bicolor had previously been described as apigeninidin, a type of flavonoid.