Biomaterial Database

The demonstration of B cells in pancreatic islets with orcein. 1982

F Callea, and V J Desmet

Orcein stains granules in pancreatic islet cells selectively. The localization of Orcein-positive cells within islets differs from that of Grimelius-stained cells, but corresponds to the B cell type differentiated by Aldehyde Fuchsin. Usually there appear to be fewer Orcein-positive cells than Aldehyde Fuchsin-positive ones. This indicates either that Aldehyde Fuchsin is a more sensitive stain for B cells or that Orcein is a more selective stain for a B cell type subpopulation. The rationale of the Orcein reaction in B cells seems to depend on the oxidation of disulphide bonds present in insulin and its precursors rich in cystine.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007515	Islets of Langerhans	Irregular microscopic structures consisting of cords of endocrine cells that are scattered throughout the PANCREAS among the exocrine acini. Each islet is surrounded by connective tissue fibers and penetrated by a network of capillaries. There are four major cell types. The most abundant beta cells (50-80%) secrete INSULIN. Alpha cells (5-20%) secrete GLUCAGON. PP cells (10-35%) secrete PANCREATIC POLYPEPTIDE. Delta cells (~5%) secrete SOMATOSTATIN.	Islands of Langerhans,Islet Cells,Nesidioblasts,Pancreas, Endocrine,Pancreatic Islets,Cell, Islet,Cells, Islet,Endocrine Pancreas,Islet Cell,Islet, Pancreatic,Islets, Pancreatic,Langerhans Islands,Langerhans Islets,Nesidioblast,Pancreatic Islet
D010078	Oxazines	Six-membered heterocycles containing an oxygen and a nitrogen.
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D012394	Rosaniline Dyes	Compounds that contain the triphenylmethane aniline structure found in rosaniline. Many of them have a characteristic magenta color and are used as COLORING AGENTS.	Fuchsins,Magentas,Fuchsin,Triphenylmethane Aniline Compounds,Aniline Compounds, Triphenylmethane,Compounds, Triphenylmethane Aniline,Dyes, Rosaniline
D012835	Silver Nitrate	A silver salt with powerful germicidal activity. It has been used topically to prevent OPHTHALMIA NEONATORUM.	Alcoholic Silver Nitrate,Silver Nitrate, Silver (2+) Salt (2:1),Silver Nitrate, Alcoholic
D013194	Staining and Labeling	The marking of biological material with a dye or other reagent for the purpose of identifying and quantitating components of tissues, cells or their extracts.	Histological Labeling,Staining,Histological Labelings,Labeling and Staining,Labeling, Histological,Labelings, Histological,Stainings