Automated Modified Wright-Giemsa-Eosin (W.G.E.) Staining for Identification of Eosinophils and Mast Cells in Paraffin or Frozen Tissue Sections

AbstractEosinophils and mast cells are important cell types in human allergic inflammation and in various animal models of pulmonary inflammatory disease. Standard histology stains for these cell types in lungs and airways include the toluidine blue and the hematoxylin and eosin stains. However, suboptimal staining continues to be a challenge for the identification of eosinophils in these tissues. Because the Wright-Giemsa technique is a benchmark staining technique for these cell types in peripheral blood smears, our laboratory has adapted this stain for histologic sections. The modified method allows easy differentiation of both cell types as well as segmentation from other myeloid cells in various tissues including lung sections. Eosin, from the routine hematoxylin and eosin set-up, is used as a counterstain. Approximate time for this combined staining procedure is 15 min. The technique is reproducible and does not require fastidious preparation or special handling steps. A commercially prepared Wright...