What is histochemical method?

What is histochemical method?

Introduction. Histochemistry is an important technique that is used for the visualization of biological structures. As such, it is concerned with the identification and distribution of various chemical components of tissues through the use of stains, indicators as well as microscopy.

What is the difference between histochemistry and enzyme histochemistry?

The immunohistochemical method localizes the enzyme protein whether it is active or not whereas the catalytic method visualizes the functionally active enzyme only. Furthermore, enzyme histochemical methods appear to be highly sensitive in comparison with immunohistochemical methods.

What is the difference between histochemistry and histology?

So, whereas histology in general is the study of biological cells and tissues in fine microscopic detail using special histological techniques, histochemistry is concerned specifically with the chemicals within, between, and forming the biological cells and tissues themselves.

How is enzyme histochemistry done?

Enzyme histochemistry serves as a link between biochemistry and morphology. It is based on metabolization of a substrate provided to a tissue enzyme in its orthotopic localization. Visualization is accomplished with an insoluble dye product.

What is histochemistry for?

Histochemistry—chemistry in the context of biological tissue—is an invaluable set of techniques used to visualize biological structures. This field lies at the interface of organic chemistry, biochemistry, and biology.

What is protein histochemistry?

It’s the tertiary structure of the protein (i.e. the three-dimensional shape) which determines its functional properties. The histochemical reaction for protein demonstration is based on their structural properties (physicochemical, tissue location, and amino acid composition).

Why do medical scientists apply histochemical stains to samples of tissues and cells?

Staining is used to highlight important features of the tissue as well as to enhance the tissue contrast. Hematoxylin is a basic dye that is commonly used in this process and stains the nuclei giving it a bluish color while eosin (another stain dye used in histology) stains the cell’s nucleus giving it a pinkish stain.

What is the fixative of choice for enzyme histochemistry and electron microscopy?

Acetone (CH3COCH3) has a similar action to alcohol and has been used as a fixative and dehydrant for tissue processing, particularly rapid hand-processing of small specimens. It is widely recommended for fixation as part of the histochemical demonstration of enzymes where it is generally used cold (4°C).

What are histological techniques?

In order to study tissues with a microscope they must be preserved (fixed) and cut into sections thin enough to be translucent. Fundamentally it consists of a chemical or physical method of killing the tissue and yet retaining characteristic peculiarities of shape and structure. …

What are histochemical reactions?

Histochemistry refers to procedures in which tissue sections act as the medium in which biochemical reactions are carried out by the addition of substrates, inhibitors, or other chemicals.

What is histochemical staining?

Histochemistry involves the differential staining of cells (i.e., using dyes that stain specific structural and molecular components) to reflect the chemical differences of the constituents.