Mann Method
Historical document, translated for reference. It reflects medical knowledge of the 1920s–30s and is not medical advice.
Summary
The Mann Method is a histological staining technique that uses a mixture of methyl blue and eosin to stain tissue sections, revealing protoplasm in blue, chromatin in dark blue, and nucleoli and blood vessels in red. It is particularly useful for identifying ameboid glia and Negri bodies in rabies.
Encyclopedia article (1928–1936)
Mann Method of staining consists in mixing 35 cm3 of a 1% solution of methyl blue with an equal amount of a 1% aqueous solution of eosin and 100 cm3 of distilled water. The sections are stained for 24 hours, washed in water, dehydrated in alcohol, and treated with a solution of: 4 drops of a 1% solution (in absolute alcohol) of caustic soda and 50 cm3 of absolute alcohol. The sections turn red in this solution; quickly rinse in pure absolute alcohol and transfer to water, where the sections lose excess stain; after 1-2 minutes, transfer the sections to slightly acidified (with acetic acid) water, where they turn blue again. Mount in balsam. Protoplasm is blue, chromatin is dark blue, nucleoli and blood vessels are red. A good method for revealing ameboid glia (see Neuroglia), its inclusions, as well as for staining Negri bodies in rabies. Mann also proposed a fixative for this staining: a solution of 1 part picric acid, 2 parts tannin in 100 cm3 of a saturated aqueous solution of corrosive sublimate and NaCl (100 cm3 of physiological solution dissolves 9 g of corrosive sublimate).
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“Mann Method.” Soviet Medical Encyclopedia. English translation of Bolshaya Meditsinskaya Entsiklopediya, 1st ed. (Moscow, 1928–1936), ed. N. A. Semashko. https://sovietmedicalencyclopedia.pages.dev/article/mann-method/