Elastin VIII. A correlative study of the aging elastica of arteries and skin.

Nigrosin base in an acid alcohol solution and Gomori's aldehyde fuchsin gave excellent staining of the elastic fibers in the arteries and skin regardless of age. Neutral hydroalcohol solutions of alcohol soluble nigrosin stained the elastic fibers in the arteries and skin of humans above age 20. Clara's neutral hematoxylin stained the arterial elastica of children less than 10 years of age, but did not color the elastic fibers of the skin. By these staining procedures, it may be possible to obtain information about arterial elastica by a skin biopsy.