Bismuth specifically stains Golgi beads and interchromatin granules after fixation with glutaraldehyde, whereas it stains nucleoli, basic protein, and biogenic amines after formaldehyde fixation. Bismuth staining of sections is relatively nonspecific: it can stain glycogen, lysosomes, ribosomes, polysaccharides, ferritin, and DNA. M.A. Hayat, "Basic Techniques for TEM" p. 184 (1986).
1. Specific En Bloc Staining (Locke & Huie, 1977)
Staining of Mucosubstances & Polysaccharides (Ainsworth et al., 1972). Kit contains: 10x10 ml Solution A (Periodic acid, Ethanol, Sodium acetate) 10x10 ml Solution B (Sodium tartrate, NaOH, Bismuth subnitrate).
