Safranin-O Staining: A Method to Visualize the Structural Integrity and Cellularity of Cartilage

To perform Safranin-O staining, first deparaffinize the slides in oxylene for three to five minutes, repeating the oxylene bath twice. Then, hydrate the slides in an ethanol gradient, ending with distilled water. Then, place the slides through Weigert's Iron Hematoxylin solution, a 0.05% Fast Green solution, a 1% acetic acid solution, and a 0.1% Safranin-O solution. Now, mount the slides using a resinous medium.