Fixation and embedding
Staining Hematoxylin & Eosin Periodic acid Schiff Toluidine blue Silver
Light microscopy
Inverted microscope
Phase contrast microscope
Differential interference contrast (DIC) component
Electron microscope scanning transmission
Epithelium
Connective tissue
Glycosaminoglycan
Collagen
Collagen Type Molecule Structural Features Representative Tissues Composition Fibrillar Collagens I [α1(I)]2[α2(I)] 300-nm-long fibrils Skin, tendon, bone, ligaments, dentin, interstitial tissues II [α1(II)]3 300-nm-long fibrils Cartilage, vitreous humor III [α1(III)]3 300-nm-long fibrils; Skin, muscle, blood vessels often with type I V [α1(V)]3 390-nm-long fibrils with Similar to type I; also cell globular N-terminal cultures, fetal tissues domain; often with type I Fibril-Associated Collagens VI [α1(VI)][α2(VI)] Lateral association with Most interstitial tissues type I; periodic globular domains IX [α1(IX)][α2(IX)] Lateral association with Cartilage, vitreous humor [α3(IX)] type II; N-terminal globular domain; bound glycosaminoglycan Sheet-Forming Collagens IV [α1(IV)]2[α2(IV)] Two-dimensional network All basal laminaes
Bone
Bone marrow
Hematopoiesis
Neuron
Synapse
Sarcoplasmic reticulum
Take home message Neuronal structure Neuromuscular junction