Luxol Fast Blue Stain Service: Myelin Visualization in CNS Tissue 

At iHisto, we offer precision Luxol Fast Blue (LFB) staining to highlight myelin sheaths in brain and spinal cord tissue. This gold-standard method enables clear detection of demyelination, neurotoxicity, and white matter changes in both clinical and preclinical settings.

🧠 Overview 

The Luxol Fast Blue stain binds specifically to myelin-associated lipoproteins, allowing high-contrast visualization of white matter in central nervous system (CNS) tissue.

iHisto’s optimized staining protocol delivers:

• Clear contrast between white matter and gray matter

• Compatibility with rodent, human, and non-human primate tissue

• Optional counterstaining (e.g., cresyl violet or H&E) for added cellular detail

This technique is widely used in neuroscience, neuropathology, and drug development.

⚙️ How the Luxol Fast Blue Stain Works 

Luxol Fast Blue is a copper phthalocyanine dye that binds to phospholipids in myelin, staining it bright blue. Healthy, myelinated fibers appear vividly against a pale or counterstained background.

Color Outcomes:

• Myelin sheaths: Blue

• Nuclei: Purple/pink (with cresyl violet or H&E counterstain)

• Background: Pale or unstained for contrast

This contrast makes demyelinated areas easy to detect and quantify.

🧬 Step-by-Step Staining Process 

1. Fixation and Sectioning
   Formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded CNS tissue is sectioned at 10–20 µm.

2. Deparaffinization and Hydration
   Slides are cleared through xylene and alcohol into distilled water.

3. LFB Staining
   Slides incubated in Luxol Fast Blue solution overnight at 56–60°C.

4. Differentiation
   Lithium carbonate and alcohol used to remove background staining, preserving myelin-specific signal.

5. Optional Counterstaining
   Cresyl violet or H&E added to highlight nuclei and gray matter.

6. Dehydration and Coverslipping
   Slides are cleared and sealed for long-term analysis and storage.

🔬 Applications of Luxol Fast Blue Staining 

Luxol Fast Blue is essential for CNS tissue analysis where white matter integrity is a focus.

Common use cases include:

• Multiple sclerosis and demyelination models

• Neurotoxicity screening in IND/GLP studies

• White matter injury mapping in trauma models

• Spinal cord injury and regeneration studies

• Drug efficacy in myelin preservation research

✅ Why Choose iHisto’s Luxol Fast Blue Staining 

• ✅ Crisp visualization of myelinated fibers

• ✅ Works with fresh, frozen, or FFPE CNS tissue

• ✅ Compatible with rodent, human, and primate models

• ✅ Optional Nissl or H&E counterstaining

• ✅ High-resolution digital scanning available

• ✅ Pathologist interpretation upon request

We support academic neuroscience labs, CROs, and pharma partners with reliable white matter assessment tools.

❓ FAQs 

• What does Luxol Fast Blue stain highlight?
  Myelin sheaths in CNS tissue — useful for evaluating white matter health and demyelination.

• Is this stain used in MS research?
  Yes — it’s the standard stain for detecting demyelinated plaques and tracking progression in MS models.

• Can it be combined with other stains?
  Absolutely. Common combinations include LFB + Cresyl Violet or LFB + H&E.

• Do you offer digital delivery?
  Yes — all slides can be scanned at high resolution and shared securely via HistoCloud or encrypted storage.

📩 Request a Quote or Consultation

iHisto delivers clear, consistent Luxol Fast Blue staining for CNS research, toxicology, and demyelination models. From study design to slide digitization, we support your research with precision.

👉 Request a Quote or email us at info@ihisto.io