Critical evaluation of the hematoxylin basic fuchsin picric acid stain as an indication of early muscle ischemia

The ability of the hematoxylin basic fuchsin picric acid stain to selectively identify regions of skeletal ischemia was evaluated in experimentally produced ischemic muscle tissue in rats. Ischemic areas stained strongly positive for ischemia in most instances; however, normal tissue often retained a patchy distribution of the fuchsin dye, the indicator of affected areas. The technique was judged unsuitable as a routine histologic procedure. Its use should not be relied upon as a sole determinant of myocardial ischemia due to its apparent inconsistency.