ironhematoxylin
Iron hematoxylin is a nuclear stain used in histology and light microscopy. It refers to hematoxylin that has been mordanted with iron ions to form a ferric-hematoxylin complex. This complex binds strongly to nucleic acids, producing a deep blue to blue‑black stain of cell nuclei. The resulting staining is more stable and resistant to fading or decolorization than some aluminum-mordanted hematoxylin formulations.
A common variant is Weigert's iron hematoxylin, which uses ferric ions as the mordant and requires an
Chemically, hematoxylin is first oxidized to an active form (hematein) that forms a complex with ferric ions.
History and use vary by protocol, with iron hematoxylin favored for its permanence in many staining schemes