Method for fluorescently staining tissue

Abstract

It is intended to provide a method for fluorescently staining a tissue accurately and clearly by convenient procedures and a staining agent used in this method. The present invention provides a method for fluorescently staining a tissue, comprising treating a tissue with a solution comprising fluorescein or a salt thereof and then fluorescently observing the treated portion under an acidic condition of lower than pH 7.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the pH dependence of fluorescence emission of fluorescein;

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a fluorescently stained image of the large intestine treated with a fluorescein solution with pH 4.0 and then observed fluorescently; and

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a fluorescently stained image of the large intestine treated with a fluorescein solution with pH 9.0 and then observed fluorescently.

Claims

1. A method for fluorescently staining a tissue, comprising treating a tissue with a solution comprising fluorescein or a salt thereof and then fluorescently observing the treated portion under an acidic condition of lower than pH 7.

2. The method for fluorescently staining a tissue according to claim 1, wherein the solution comprising fluorescein or a salt thereof is an acidic solution with lower than pH 7.

3. The method for fluorescently staining a tissue according to claim 1, wherein the solution comprising fluorescein or a salt thereof is a basic solution with not lower than pH 7, and the treated portion is fluorescently observed after washing with an acidic solution with lower than pH 7.

4. The method for fluorescently staining a tissue according to claim 1, wherein the tissue is a living body tissue or a living body-derived tissue.

5. The method for fluorescently staining a tissue according to claim 1, wherein the treatment of the tissue with the solution comprising fluorescein or a salt thereof is application of the solution to the tissue or immersion of the tissue into the solution.

6. The method for fluorescently staining a tissue according to claim 1, wherein the fluorescent observation is observation with a fluorescence microscope, a fluorescence endoscope, or a confocal imaging system.

7. A fluorescent staining agent for a tissue comprising a solution comprising fluorescein or a salt thereof, which is intended for treating a tissue and then fluorescently observing the treated portion under an acidic condition of lower than pH 7.

8. The fluorescent staining agent for a tissue according to claim 7, wherein the solution comprising fluorescein or a salt thereof is an acidic solution with lower than pH 7.

9. The fluorescent staining agent for a tissue according to claim 7, wherein the solution comprising fluorescein or a salt thereof is a basic solution with not lower than pH 7, and the treated portion is fluorescently observed after washing with an acidic solution with lower than pH 7.

10. The fluorescent staining agent for a tissue according to claim 7, wherein the tissue is a living body tissue or a living body-derived tissue.

11. The fluorescent staining agent for a tissue according to claim 7, wherein the treatment of the tissue with the solution comprising fluorescein or a salt thereof is application of the solution to the tissue or immersion of the tissue into the solution.

12. The fluorescent staining agent for a tissue according to claim 7, wherein the fluorescent observation is observation with a fluorescence microscope, a fluorescence endoscope, or a confocal imaging system.