Abstract
Purpose: To demonstrate ferric iron in tissue sections. Small amounts of iron are found normally in spleen and bone marrow. Excessive amounts are present in hemochromatosis, with deposits found in the liver and pancreas, hemosiderosis, with deposits in the liver, spleen, and lymph nodes.Principle: The reaction occurs with the treatment of sections in acid solutions of ferrocyanides. Any ferric ion (+3) in the tissue combines with the ferrocyanide and results in the formation of a bright blue pigment called 'Prussian blue" or ferric ferrocyanide.
Materials and Reagents
Equipment
Procedure
Safety: Wear gloves, goggles and lab coat. Avoid contact and inhalation. Potassium ferrocyanide; Low toxicity as long as it is not heated, it will release cyanide gas. Hydrochloric acid; target organ effects on reproductive system and fetal tissue. Irritant to skin eyes and respiratory system.
Representative data
Figure 1. Typical results from this experiment
Recipes
Acknowledgments
This protocol was adapted/modified from original versions as described in Luna (1968).
References
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