Introduction

Aniline Blue reagent is a component of Masson Trichrome kit used for visualization of muscles, collagen fibers and connective tissues, gametes, nuclei, neurofibrils, neuroglia, collagen, keratin intracellular fibrils and negative visualization of the Golgi apparatus. It is a method of staining muscle and collagen fibers in tissues during which Aniline Blue dye binds with collagen making it turn distinct blue. It is also used for visualization of increased collagen buildup associated with functioning tissue being mistaken for scar tissue (liver sclerosis diagnosis), but also for differentiating smooth muscle fibers and collagens.