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Understanding Romanowsky staining

2. The staining mechanism of suspension-fixed cells, including influences of specimen morphology on the Romanowsky-Giemsa effect

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Summary

Romanowsky staining of suspension-fixed lymphocytes and fibroblasts, deposited as monolayers on slides, involves an initial basic dyeing process followed by formation of a hydrophobic Azur B/Eosin Y complex at the more permeable and so faster staining cellular sites. This mechanism is shared with blood and marrow smears. However certain morphological features peculiar to suspension-fixed, cell culture-derived preparations also influence the staining pattern via rate control: namely the irregular and bulky profiles of fibroblasts, compared to the smoother and thinner lymphocytes; and the occasional superficial occlusion of cells by culture medium.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biomedical Science, University of Sheffield, S10 2TN, Sheffield, England

    R. W. Horobin

  2. Department of Zoology, University of Sheffield, S10 2TN, Sheffield, England

    L. Pindar

  3. Sub-Department of Medical Genetics, University of Sheffield, 117 Manchester Road, S10 5DN, Sheffield, England

    D. Curtis

Authors
  1. R. W. Horobin
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  2. D. Curtis
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  3. L. Pindar
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Horobin, R.W., Curtis, D. & Pindar, L. Understanding Romanowsky staining. Histochemistry 91, 77–80 (1989). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00501915

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00501915

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