"Basophilic stains " are acidic stains called " base loving " stains . " Basophilic substances " are " base loving " cells . " Basophilic substances " attract basic dyes, such as haematoxylin; " Eosin " is referred to as an basophilic stain.
22.
Phosphotungstic acid is used in histology as a component for staining of cell specimens, often together with haematoxylin as PTAH . It binds to fibrin, collagen, and fibres of connective tissues, and replaces the anions of dyes from these materials, selectively decoloring them.
23.
When tap water is not sufficiently alkaline, or is even acidic and is unsatisfactory for blueing haematoxylin, a tap water substitute consisting of 3.5 g NaHCO 3 and 20 g MgSO 4.7H 2 O in one litre of water with thymol ( to inhibit formation of moulds ), is used to accelerate blueing of thin paraffin sections.
