Methyl green-pyronin with hematoxylin and orange G for the identification of inflammatory cells in tissue sections.

Methyl green-pyronin is a notoriously difficult stain to reproduce. Although very useful in detecting cells containing substantial amounts of RNA, it is of limited use in broader problems of cell identification. By careful standardization of the proportions of methyl green to pyronin and combination of these stains with hematoxylin to enhance nuclear contrast and with orange G to improve connective tissue staining, it was possible to produce a consistently reliable staining preparation in which it is possible to identify all the component cells of a mixed inflammatory infiltrate in routine paraffin sections.