Cresyl Violet
Historical document, translated for reference. It reflects medical knowledge of the 1920s–30s and is not medical advice.
Summary
Cresyl Violet is a basic oxazine dye used as a nuclear and protoplasmic stain in histology. It produces metachromatic staining of various cellular structures in different colors when applied to frozen formalin-fixed material.
Encyclopedia entry (1928–1936)
CRESYL VIOLET, a basic oxazine dye (marks R extra, RR, RB, B and BB Leonhardt); represents a dark blue-green powder, soluble in water with a blue-violet color and red fluorescence. With hydrochloric acid forms a red precipitate in aqueous solution, with NaOH a brown precipitate. An excellent nuclear and protoplasmic stain. For general histological studies, prepare a mixture of 15-20 cm3 of concentrated alcoholic (95°) solution of C. and 100 cm3 of aniline water. Nuclei stain metachromatically in red-violet color, protoplasm in blue, contractile and muscle fibers in blue, collagen fibers in red, nerve sheaths in red-orange, erythrocytes in yellow. Particularly advantageous for use on frozen formalin-fixed material. Mount in levulose, since alcohol destroys metachromasia. Also stains Nissl bodies well (stain in weak aqueous solution) and skin (stain in concentrated aqueous solution, differentiate in 96° alcohol - nuclei dark-violet, protoplasm violet-blue, cornified elements dark-violet, keratohyalin red).
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“Cresyl Violet.” Soviet Medical Encyclopedia. English translation of Bolshaya Meditsinskaya Entsiklopediya, 1st ed. (Moscow, 1928–1936), ed. N. A. Semashko. https://sovietmedicalencyclopedia.pages.dev/article/cresyl-violet/