Oil Red O stain is used to demonstrate neutral fats in liver tissue. It is used to assess the presence and extent of neutral fat. The Oil Red O stain is based on the greater solubility of the dye in neutral fats than in the solvent in which it is dissolved. In tissues containing fat, the Oil Red O moves from the staining solution to the tissue fat because of its greater solubility in latter than the alcohol. Oil Red O staining can only be performed in frozen sections since the tissue fat is removed by the alcohols and clearing agents used for paraffin processing. The sections are counterstained with hematoxylin and mounted in a compatible medium that will not dissolve the tissue fat.
Oil Red O stain is used to demonstrate neutral fats in liver tissue. It is used to assess the presence and extent of neutral fat. The Oil Red O stain is based on the greater solubility of the dye in neutral fats than in the solvent in which it is dissolved. In tissues containing fat, the Oil Red O moves from the staining solution to the tissue fat because of its greater solubility in latter than the alcohol. Oil Red O staining can only be performed in frozen sections since the tissue fat is removed by the alcohols and clearing agents used for paraffin processing. The sections are counterstained with hematoxylin and mounted in a compatible medium that will not dissolve the tissue fat.