Nissl staining

The Nissl staining is a dye combination mostly staining RNA in dark blue to purple.

Principle

The Nissl staining employs a mixture of basic dyes (aniline, thionine, or cresyl violet) which stains negatively charged RNA.

Target of the dye

Nissl staining typically marks the ER due to ribosomal RNA as well as the nucleus.

External links

• Nissl staining section from the biography of the eponymous scientist Franz Nissl in the Wikipedia
• Nissl staining of paraffin section protocol from the Hevner Lab U Washington