Purpose of Hematoxylin

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Purpose of Hematoxylin

Hematoxylin is used to demonstrate nuclear detail in cells to include crisp nuclear membranes and nucleoli and a variety of chromatin patterns. Depth of coloration is not only related to the amount of DNA in the nuclei, but also to the length of time the sample spends in hematoxylin.
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Sebaceous gland showing pyknotic nuclei, visible on top half of the image.