Hi Holly,

If it's a leukobasic fuchsin then 1% sodium borohydride should reduce it 
and make it colourless. In the process you'll get rid of any aldehyde 
fixation induced autofluorescence, which can only be a good thing.

Lachlan

Diane G Miller wrote:
> Hi Holly,
>  
> If they use a weak solution of acetic acid in water.  .05% that should 
> decolorize the slide.
>  
> Hope that helps.
> Diane
>
>     -----Original Message-----
>     *From:* Confocal Microscopy List
>     [mailto:[log in to unmask]]*On Behalf Of *Holly Aaron
>     *Sent:* Thursday, July 30, 2009 2:26 PM
>     *To:* [log in to unmask]
>     *Subject:* releasing old histology stains (which are fluorescing
>     in red)
>
>     Dear List - Not strictly a confocal question, but...
>
>     Does anyone have a protocol for releasing old histology stains
>     from parafin embedded tissue sections? I have users who are having
>     a hard time getting around a lot of red background in their
>     samples. They have already removed the parafin and have been able
>     to release some of the stains using high or low pH baths, but
>     still see a significant signal in the red channel. They want to do
>     multi-color antibody labeling on the sections now. They can do it
>     avoiding red, using green and blue and maybe a far-red (we have
>     not characterized the spectra yet), but if there is a way to
>     release these old stains, it would be very useful for them. They
>     think the only stains on the tissue are H&E (which they think is
>     not the problem as they have done this before, although eosin is
>     brightly red?) and PAS-aurantia.
>
>     Thanks for any tips or ideas!
>
>     -- 
>
>     Holly L Aaron
>
>     Molecular Imaging Center
>
>     Cancer Research Laboratory
>
>     251 Life Sciences Addition #2751
>
>     Berkeley, CA  94720-2751
>
>     510.642.2901
>
>     510.642.5741 FAX
>
>     [log in to unmask] <mailto:[log in to unmask]>
>
>     http://imaging.berkeley.edu
>
>      
>