Luxol Fast Blue Staining Solution - BioReagent,for microscopy,Biological Stain

Cat. No.: L1507842

GRADE & PURITY BioReagent, Biological Stain, for Microscopy

Storage

Protected from light,Room temperature

Shipped In

Normal

Application

Cell Staining

Vue d’ensemble

  Myelin Sheath is a membrane that wraps around the axon of a nerve cell. Specifically, it consists of myelin cells and cell membranes, and is a multi-layered lipid bilayer structure formed by the plasma membrane of neurolemmocytes spirally winding along the axis of the axon. There are nodes of Ranvier on the myelin sheath, which enable the saltatory conduction of nerve impulses. Myelin sheath staining has certain significance in pathological diagnosis. The pathological changes of the myelin sheath are divided into early, middle and late stages. In the early stage, the staining is relatively dark; in the middle stage of the lesion, the myelin sheath degenerates to form lipid droplets, which can be displayed by lipid staining; in the late stage, it completely degenerates and is cleared by phagocytes, so there is no longer a positive result for the myelin sheath.

  Many diseases can cause changes in the myelin sheath. Luxol Fast Blue staining can show whether the myelin sheath is intact, the degree of degeneration and necrosis, and the repair status under pathological conditions, which is of significance for the pathological diagnosis and research of nerve tissue. For example, when nerve fibers are damaged, the myelin sheath may show changes such as swelling, twisting into a spherical shape, fragmentation, or complete disappearance of demyelination. This reagent is only used in the field of scientific research and is not suitable for clinical diagnosis or other purposes.

Self-Prepared Materials

1. Distilled water, a series of ethanol, xylene or dewaxing solution (D292661)

2. Eosin staining solution, 0.1% lithium carbonate aqueous solution, neutral balsam

Operating Steps (for reference only)

1. Paraffin sections (5-10 μm in thickness) are dewaxed with xylene or dewaxing solution (D292661), and then the sections are transferred downward into 95% ethanol for a brief rinse.

2. Add Luxol Fast Blue staining solution and stain at room temperature for 12-20 hours.

3. Rinse off the excess staining solution with 95% ethanol, then rinse with distilled water.

4. Differentiate with 0.1% lithium carbonate aqueous solution for 10-15 seconds, then differentiate with 70% ethanol for 30 seconds until the gray and white matter are clearly distinguishable.

5. Rinse with distilled water (if the differentiation is insufficient, steps 4-5 can be repeated).

6. Counterstain with eosin for 20 seconds to 90 seconds, then rinse with water.

7. Perform conventional dehydration, clear the sections with xylene or dewaxing solution (D292661), and mount the sections with neutral balsam.

Staining Results

Myelin sheath: Blue-green

Cytoplasm: Red

Precautions

1. Differentiation is crucial. The differentiation time should be strictly controlled, and the degree of differentiation can be observed under a microscope.

2. The preferred fixative is 10% formalin.

3. The sections should not be too thick and should be controlled within 5-10 μm; otherwise, phenomena such as section detachment or over-staining are likely to occur.

4. For your safety and health, please wear a lab coat and disposable gloves during operation.

Specifications

Spécifications et pureté

BioReagent,for microscopy,Biological Stain

Stabilité et stockage

Store at room temperature long term (12 months). Store in the dark.

Conditions de stockage de stockage

Protected from light,Room temperature

Expédié en

Normal

Grade

Biological Stain, BioReagent, for Microscopy

Product Line

Produits biologiques

Propriétés chimiques et physiques

• Sensibilité: Light-sensitive

Application Protocols

The following is a generalized research-use protocol for Luxol Fast Blue staining. It is provided as literature guidance only and is not specific to this item. Adjust to your SOPs and verify compatibility. Item-specific instructions are not provided in the Product Data; check the label/CoA.

• Materials

  • Luxol Fast Blue Staining Solution (this product)
  • Xylene (or substitute), ethanol series (100%, 95%, 70%), distilled water
  • Lithium carbonate solution (e.g., 0.05–0.1% w/v)
  • Optional counterstain: Cresyl Violet or Nuclear Fast Red
  • Mounting medium compatible with clearing solvent

• Procedure (paraffin sections, 5–10 µm)

  1. Deparaffinize and rehydrate to water.
  2. Stain in Luxol Fast Blue solution at 56–60 C for 30–90 min (or room temperature overnight), with gentle agitation.
  3. Rinse in 95% ethanol, then briefly differentiate in lithium carbonate (5–30 s).
  4. Further differentiate in 70% ethanol until gray matter just clears; monitor microscopically.
  5. Rinse in water. Apply counterstain if desired (e.g., Cresyl Violet 2–5 min). Rinse, dehydrate, clear, and coverslip.

• Controls and QC

  • Include known myelinated tissue as positive control. Record times and temperatures for reproducibility.

Safety note: Follow the SDS for this product and all solvents. Dispose of waste per institutional and regulatory requirements.

Biological Roles

• Scope note

  • This product is a chemical staining solution and does not have a biological role itself. The following provides context on what it visualizes in biological samples.

• Targeted tissue features (literature)

  • Myelin sheaths: Luxol Fast Blue binds to myelin’s lipid-rich components (sulfatides and other lipoproteins), coloring myelinated white matter intensely blue while sparing gray matter under controlled differentiation.
  • White vs. gray matter contrast: The technique discriminates tissue regions by lipid composition and density, aiding morphologic assessment of tracts and lesional changes in research settings.

• Interactions and mechanism (literature)

  • The dye–lipid interaction is largely hydrophobic/ionic in nature, with staining enhanced by acidic media and reversible by differentiation in alcohols/carbonate solutions.
  • Counterstains (e.g., Cresyl Violet) provide complementary visualization of Nissl substance and nuclei, enabling multiplexed structural interpretation.

• Practical implications

  • Section processing (fixation, paraffin embedding, or cryosectioning) and prior lipid extraction can significantly influence staining intensity. Overexposure to clearing solvents or prolonged dehydration may deplete lipids and reduce signal.

Item-specific identity, concentration, and composition of the dye in this product are not specified; consult CoA/SDS for exact details and validate performance with control tissues.

Buffer Applications

This product is not a buffering reagent and is not typically used to prepare pH buffer systems.

• Guidance
  • Use established laboratory buffers (e.g., lithium carbonate solution for differentiation, acetate buffers for counterstains) as indicated by your validated Luxol Fast Blue protocols.
  • Ensure buffer compatibility with the staining solution’s solvent system; verify that aqueous buffer additions do not cause precipitation or phase separation.

Item-specific buffer-related specifications are not provided; refer to your institutional SOPs and CoA.

Green Alternatives

• Context

  • Traditional myelin staining workflows use xylene (for deparaffinization) and high-percentage ethanol or isopropanol in staining/differentiation. These solvents pose flammability and exposure concerns.

• Potential greener adjustments (literature; evaluate in your lab)

  • Xylene substitutes: Low-aromatic hydrocarbon or dibasic ester-based clearants reduce toxicity/odor versus xylene while maintaining clearing performance; compatibility with LFB workflows should be verified.
  • Aqueous deparaffinization systems: Some labs employ detergent-based, water-miscible systems to reduce VOCs; may require protocol re-optimization for staining intensity and differentiation control.
  • Alcohol choice: Isopropanol can substitute for ethanol in some steps; it may reduce cost and supply risk but can alter differentiation rate.
  • Waste reduction: Reuse/rotate working staining baths where validated; filter solutions to extend life. Segregate halogenated from non-halogenated waste.

• Tradeoffs

  • Stain contrast and permanence can shift with solvent changes; background levels and differentiation end-points may vary. Always revalidate timing and temperatures when adopting greener substitutions.

Note: The composition of this specific product is not specified. Implement any green changes in upstream/downstream steps rather than altering the supplied staining solution unless the supplier supports dilution/substitution.

Pharmaceutical Uses

Not applicable to this product.

• Context

  • Luxol Fast Blue Staining Solution is a research-grade biological stain for microscopy. It is not an excipient or processing aid for pharmaceutical manufacturing, nor is it intended for diagnostic or therapeutic use.

• Guidance

  • For any regulated use (e.g., GLP histology in nonclinical studies), qualify the reagent internally, retain CoA/SDS, and follow validated SOPs.

No pharmacopeial monograph or compendial status is specified for this item; consult CoA/Spec Sheet if such information is required.

Physical Properties

• Item-specific (from Product Data)

  • Physical state/appearance: Not specified for this item; refer to CoA/Spec Sheet.
  • Storage conditions: Protected from light; room temperature.
  • Shipping: Shipped under normal conditions.

• Not specified for this item; refer to CoA/Spec Sheet

  • Density, refractive index, pH, specific gravity, viscosity, flash point, solvent composition, dye concentration.

• General/literature information (for context; not specifications of this item)

  • Luxol Fast Blue working solutions used in histology are commonly ethanolic or hydroalcoholic and are intensely blue in color; they can have acidic pH to promote selective binding and enable differentiation steps.
  • Typical staining is performed on paraffin-embedded sections (5–10 µm) with immersion at elevated temperature (e.g., 56–60 C) to accelerate dye penetration, followed by differentiation in alcohols and/or lithium carbonate solutions. These are procedural conditions rather than inherent physical properties of the solution.

Note: Do not treat literature values or general descriptions as specifications. Always verify lot-specific physical parameters on the product label and CoA.

Quality and Grades

• Item-specific (from Product Data)

  • Grade/Purity designation: BioReagent, Biological Stain, for Microscopy.

• What this means

  • BioReagent: Indicates suitability for research workflows where biochemical compatibility and consistent performance are prioritized. It does not imply clinical/diagnostic validation.
  • Biological Stain, for Microscopy: Formulated and quality-screened for histological/cytological staining performance (e.g., intensity, contrast, and reproducibility), particularly in tissue myelin visualization protocols.

• Practical implications

  • Lot-to-lot performance: Staining solutions are typically controlled for dye activity and color strength; users should verify performance with internal controls (e.g., known myelinated tissue sections).
  • Microscopy readiness: Provided as a staining solution intended for direct use in histology protocols, minimizing preparation variability relative to in-house dye makes.

• Not specified for this item; refer to CoA/Spec Sheet

  • Exact dye concentration, solvent composition, stabilizers/preservatives, pH, UV/Vis absorbance profile, heavy metal content.

• Recommendations

  • Record lot numbers and maintain a consistent differentiation schedule to ensure reproducible results across studies.
  • For regulated workflows, retain Certificates of Analysis and validate staining performance with in-lab QC slides.

Reaction and Applications

Focus: This section covers laboratory applications rather than chemical reactions, as the product is a staining solution.

• Primary application (literature)

  • Myelin staining in CNS tissue: Luxol Fast Blue selectively stains myelinated fibers, enabling assessment of white matter architecture in paraffin or frozen sections. The dye binds preferentially to lipoprotein components of myelin, yielding intense blue coloration of white matter.

• Common protocol contexts (literature)

  • Kluver–Barrera method: LFB staining followed by counterstaining with Cresyl Violet (or Nissl stains) to visualize both myelin (blue) and neuronal cell bodies/Nissl substance (purple-violet).
  • Combined methods: LFB with Periodic Acid–Schiff (LFB-PAS) to distinguish myelin and neutral mucopolysaccharides; or LFB with hematoxylin/eosin variants to augment nuclear contrast.

• Practical tips (general)

  • Section thickness: 5–10 µm paraffin sections are typical; thicker sections may require longer staining and differentiation.
  • Temperature control: Heating the staining solution bath (e.g., 56–60 C) accelerates penetration; avoid overheating to prevent non-specific background.
  • Differentiation control: Use timed differentiation and constant agitation; stop when gray matter just begins to clear while white matter remains blue.
  • Positive/negative controls: Include known myelinated tissue as a positive control and non-myelinated regions as internal differentiation references.

• Item-specific

  • Manufacturer application notes were not provided beyond “For research use only.” Use standard LFB histology workflows and validate in-house. Refer to label/CoA for any product-specific instructions.

Reaction Conditions

This section provides general staining conditions (literature) rather than chemical reaction conditions, as appropriate for a histological staining solution. These are not product specifications; optimize in your lab.

• Typical section preparation

  • Deparaffinize in xylene (or substitute), rehydrate through graded ethanol to water.

• Staining (Luxol Fast Blue)

  • Immerse sections in Luxol Fast Blue staining solution. Many protocols use 56–60 C for 30 minutes to overnight, depending on section thickness and desired intensity. Gentle agitation improves uniformity.

• Differentiation

  • Rinse in 95% ethanol, then briefly dip in 0.05–0.1% lithium carbonate (seconds to a minute). Follow with 70% ethanol until gray matter clears and white matter remains blue. Carefully monitor microscopically.

• Counterstaining (optional)

  • Cresyl Violet (Kluver–Barrera) or hematoxylin variants for nuclei/Nissl substance. Bluing and dehydration per standard practice.

• Mounting

  • Dehydrate through alcohols, clear in xylene (or substitute), and coverslip with a resinous mounting medium compatible with the solvent system.

• Expected outcomes

  • White matter: blue; gray matter: nearly colorless to pale background after proper differentiation; nuclei/cytoplasm per chosen counterstain.

Item-specific temperatures, times, and compositions are not specified; refer to CoA/label and validate with control slides.

Safety and Handling

• Item-specific (from Product Data)

  • GHS classification, signal word, H-statements, pictograms: Not specified for this item; refer to the SDS for authoritative safety information.
  • Storage: Store at room temperature, protected from light.
  • Research use: For research use only.

• General laboratory precautions (good practice; defer to SDS)

  • PPE: Use appropriate lab coat, nitrile gloves, and safety glasses. Work in a well-ventilated area or fume hood when handling staining solutions.
  • Avoid ingestion, inhalation of aerosols/mists, and skin/eye contact. Wash thoroughly after handling.
  • Incompatibilities (general): Strong oxidizers and strong acids/bases may be incompatible depending on the formulation; avoid mixing with unknown chemicals. Keep container tightly closed to prevent evaporation and contamination.
  • Light sensitivity: Protect from light to maintain dye integrity and staining performance.

• First-aid overview (general)

  • Skin contact: Remove contaminated clothing; rinse skin with water for at least 15 minutes. Seek medical attention if irritation persists.
  • Eye contact: Rinse cautiously with water for several minutes; remove contact lenses if present and easy to do; continue rinsing and seek medical attention.
  • Inhalation: Move to fresh air; seek medical attention if symptoms develop.
  • Ingestion: Rinse mouth; do not induce vomiting; seek medical advice.

Always consult the product’s SDS for definitive hazard, handling, spill, and disposal guidance.

Solvent Selection

This product is a formulated staining solution; separate solvent selection is generally not required for the staining step itself.

• Item-specific (from Product Data)

  • Supplied as a staining solution; composition and solvent system are not specified. Refer to label/CoA.

• General guidance for associated steps (literature; not specifications)

  • Pretreatment and clearing: Paraffin sections are typically deparaffinized in xylene or xylene substitutes, then rehydrated through graded ethanols to water before staining.
  • Staining bath: Many Luxol Fast Blue protocols employ an ethanolic or hydroalcoholic dye bath; elevated temperature (e.g., 56–60 C) may be used to enhance penetration.
  • Differentiation: Alcoholic differentiation and brief lithium carbonate dip are commonly used to sharpen myelin contrast; exact solvents and times are protocol-dependent.

• Choosing alternatives

  • If you need a water-based workflow, verify compatibility of differentiation steps and counterstains with the chosen solvent system. Some labs adopt low-odor xylene substitutes or aqueous mounting media to reduce solvent exposure, but this can affect contrast and permanence.

Always follow your validated histology protocol and the product label. Where solvent identity impacts safety (e.g., flammability), consult the SDS.

Storage and Reconstitution

• Item-specific (from Product Data)

  • Storage conditions: Store at room temperature, protected from light.
  • Shipping: Normal conditions.

• Stability and handling

  • Keep container tightly closed to minimize evaporation and contamination. Protect from light to maintain dye integrity.
  • Do not freeze unless the label explicitly allows it; freeze–thaw may cause precipitation or performance drift.

• Reconstitution/dilution

  • Not specified for this item; refer to CoA/Spec Sheet and product label. Many LFB products are supplied ready-to-use; if provided as a concentrate, dilute only as directed by the manufacturer using compatible solvents.

• In-use guidance

  • If reusing staining baths, filter to remove particulates and monitor performance with control slides. Discard if background increases or staining weakens.

• Research use note

  • For research use only. Not for diagnostic procedures or clinical applications.

Structure and Identity

Brief overview: This product is a prepared staining solution intended for histological/microscopy visualization of myelin using Luxol Fast Blue (LFB) dye.

• Item-specific (from Product Data)

  • Product type: Ready-to-use staining solution (mixture; not a single compound)
  • SKU: L1507842
  • Grade: BioReagent, Biological Stain, for Microscopy
  • CAS: Not specified for this item; refer to CoA/Spec Sheet.
  • Molecular formula: Not specified for this item; refer to CoA/Spec Sheet.
  • Molecular weight: Not specified for this item; refer to CoA/Spec Sheet.
  • SMILES / InChI / InChIKey: Not applicable for a formulated solution; refer to CoA/Spec Sheet for dye identity if provided.

• General chemistry notes (literature)

  • Luxol Fast Blue is historically used to stain myelinated fibers in CNS tissue sections; binding is driven by strong interactions with lipidic components of myelin sheaths.
  • Commercial LFB staining solutions are typically alcoholic or hydroalcoholic formulations containing Luxol Fast Blue dye and may include acid for dye solubilization and differentiation aids. Formulation varies by supplier.

• Structural description (literature, for context only)

  • The active chromophore is a blue dye; the working solution is a homogeneous liquid mixture. As a formulated product, no single 2D molecular structure is representative of the whole product. Where structural identifiers are needed (e.g., for the dye component), consult the specific CoA for this lot.

Synthetic Utility

This product is a formulated staining solution and is not intended as a synthetic reagent or building block.

• If you require dye components for synthesis or analytical reference, obtain the neat dye or certified reference materials with defined identity and purity.

No reaction or building-block utility is claimed for this item.

Target Specificity

This section typically applies to antibodies or affinity reagents. It is not applicable to a general chemical staining solution.

• Item-specific

  • No antigen/epitope, clone, isotype, or species reactivity is associated with this product.

• Context (literature)

  • Luxol Fast Blue exhibits physicochemical selectivity for myelin lipoproteins rather than molecular antigen specificity.

Foire aux questions

What does Biological Stain mean?

Biological Stain indicates that the product has been processed and tested for biological and biochemical applications. Specifications may include endotoxin limits, microbial controls, sterility, low DNase/RNase/protease activity, and verified biological activity where relevant.

What does BioReagent mean?

BioReagent indicates that the product has been processed and tested for biological and biochemical applications. Specifications may include endotoxin limits, microbial controls, sterility, low DNase/RNase/protease activity, and verified biological activity where relevant.

How should this product be stored?

Store at room temperature, protected from light. The material is light-sensitive — keep it in its original opaque or amber container.

How is this product shipped?

This product ships under standard ambient conditions. No temperature-controlled packaging is required.

What documentation is provided?

Available product documentation, including Certificates of Analysis (COA), Safety Data Sheets (SDS), and specification sheets, is shown in the product document area. Document availability and access follow the current site policy.