Special Stains for Extracellular Matrix

Extracellular matrix and cells are the components of connective tissue. Extracellular matrix provides tissue with tensile strength, elasticity, and resistance to compressive forces. Although immunohistochemistry is often used to study matrix constituents, a number of basic histological techniques can be used to describe the qualitative and quantitative presence and arrangement of matrix components. This chapter details specific staining techniques used for the study of extracellular matrix, explaining the rationale of each.