Histochemical uses of Haematoxylin - A review

Abstract

The natural dye, haematoxylin obtained from the logwood, haematoxylon campechianum is the most important and most used dye in histology, histochemistry, histopathology and in cytology. It is especially used in histopathology and cytology for the diagnosis of malignant and non malignant lesions. It can be used as a primary stain and as a counter stain where it will differentiate acidophilic materials from basophilic materials and stain non cellular substances such as fibrin, crystals and pigments in various shades depending on the nature of the mordant used and the second stain. Haematoxylin has been used extensively in the demonstration of certain parasites, lipids, carbohydrates, nucleic acids, metals, connective tissue fibers and in immunohistochemistry. Haematoxylin has also been used in the demonstration of several intracellular substances such as mitochondria, chromosomes, chromatin, nucleoli, centrioles, nuclear membrane, ground cytoplasm, cross striations of muscle fibres and chromatin granules in several staining techniques. Haematoxylin is therefore an indispensable dye in histochemistry and histopathology.