Loose Connective Tissue

Loose Connective Tissue (LCT)

Areolar Tissue

Pink = collagen

Purple = elastin

Masson’s Trichrome Stain – blue = collagen

Orecin Stain for Elastin – purple “ribbon candy”

Sliver Stain for Reticular Fibers

Collagen synthesis and organization

TEM of extracellular collagen fibers (Cl)

TEM of collagen fibers with 64 nm periodicity

Types of glycosaminoglycans (GAGs)

PAS stain of epithelial basement membranes (BM)

TEM of a basement membrane (BL)

Cells of the LCT Fibroblasts

LM of fibroblasts (arrows)

SEM of fibroblasts

Adipose and Adipocytes

Adipocytes (fat cells)

Adipose Tissue – fat cells + CT septa (arrows)

Adipose Tissue fixed and stained w/ Osmium Tetroxide

Defense cells of the LCT Neutrophils, Plasma cells, Mast cells, and Macrophage

LCT – a = pericytes; b = mast cell; c = plasma cells; d = capillary

LCT – M = mast cell; P = plasma cells; F = fibroblasts; Eo = eosinophils, N = neutrophils

TEM of a Plasma Cell

TEM of a Mast Cell

TEM of a Macrophage