Question.

Can Verhoeff's elastic tissue stain (iron hematoxylin with iodine) be used to stain myelin sheaths?

Answer.

H. Puchtler and F. S. Waldrop published "On the Mechanism of Verhoeff's Elastica Stain: A Convenient Stain for Myelin Sheath" in Histochemistry 62:233-247 (1979).

They stated: "Verhoeff's elastica stain is definitely not specific for elastin and is inferior to orcein and resorcin-fuchsin because of the required differentiation with its inherent bias to produce patterns which conform to expectations. However, Verhoeff's elastica stain is far superior to other metal-hematein technics for myelin sheaths. The combined Verhoeff-picro-Sirius Red F3BA stain can be performed in 30 min and does not require differentiation. It is therefore suggested to reclassify Verhoeff's elastica stain as a method for myelin sheaths."

Freida Carson
(FreidaC[AT]aol.com)