An Improved Crystal Violet Method with Alkaline Differentiation for Juxtaglomerular Granules

In the previous alkaline crystal violet method for selectively demonstrating juxtaglomerular (JG) granules (Harada 1971), the staining solution was found to be unstable. Subsequent testing has shown that the alkali is equally effective if applied after a nonalkalized aqueous solution of crystal violet has been applied for the staining, thus allowing stable stock solutions of the staining reagents to be used. The new procedure is as follows:

Sections of 4 μ thickness from adult mouse kidney fixed in phosphate-buffered 10% formalin were cut from paraffin-embedded material and attached to slides with albumen adhesive. They were deparaffinized, hydrated, and washed in tap water.