Tinción

Tinción refers to a technique used in microscopy and histology to add color to biological tissues or samples. This process enhances visualization of cellular structures and components that might otherwise be invisible or difficult to distinguish under a microscope. Dyes, also known as stains, are used to selectively bind to different parts of the cell or tissue, creating contrast.

The principle behind tinción is the differential affinity of various cellular structures for different dyes. Some stains are acidic and bind to basic (positively charged) components like the nucleus, while others are basic and bind to acidic (negatively charged) components like the cytoplasm. Mordants are often used in conjunction with stains to improve the binding of the dye to the tissue, effectively increasing the intensity of the color. Decolorizing agents may also be employed to remove excess stain or to achieve differential staining, where different structures take up color to varying degrees.

There are numerous tinción techniques, each designed to highlight specific cellular features. Common examples include Hematoxylin and Eosin (H&E) staining, widely used for general tissue examination, which stains nuclei blue and cytoplasm pink. Gram staining is crucial in microbiology for differentiating bacteria based on their cell wall composition. Other specialized stains exist for identifying fats, carbohydrates, or specific proteins. The choice of tinción depends on the type of sample being examined and the specific structures or abnormalities the researcher aims to observe.