Heidenhain’s Iron-Hematoxylin Stain Kit

Hematoxylin and Eosin (H&E) staining is one of the most widely used techniques in histopathology. Hematoxylin, a basic dye, stains nuclear chromatin and ribosomes a purplish-blue, while Eosin, an acidic dye, stains the cytoplasm and extracellular matrix pink to red.

This kit uses ferric ammonium sulfate (iron alum) as both an oxidizer and differentiator, revealing distinct tissue structures based on differentiation levels. Initially, all components stain black or dark grayish-black. During differentiation with Heidenhain Differentiating Solution, staining fades at different rates depending on the tissue structure. The typical destaining sequence is: mitochondria, striated muscle, and finally nuclear chromatin.