Common Pigments and Minerals
Pigment/Mineral
Hemoglobin
Hemosiderin
Bile Pigment
(Biliverdin)
Melanin
Lipofuchsin
Ceroid
Description
A conjugated protein that is found normally in red
blood cells and is responsible for transporting
oxygen from the lungs to other parts of the body.
It may be found pathologically in areas of recent
hemorrhage or in renal tubules after hemolysis.
Iron is conserved in the body for use in production
of new hemoglobin. If the iron is not needed
immediately, it is stored primarily in the bone
marrow and spleen as hemosiderin, a yellow to
brown pigment.
The bile pigment biliverdin results from the
destruction of red blood cells and further
breakdown of the heme portion of hemoglobin.
Biliverdin is transported to the liver, where it
undergoes reduction to bilirubin. Bilirubin is not
normally deposited in tissue but is removed from
circulation by the liver and then secreted as one of
the components of bile. An obstruction of bile
flow could cause it to be deposited in tissue.
Melanin is derived from tyrosine and is
characteristically a brown-black pigment present
normally in the hair, skin, retina, iris, and certain
parts of the central nervous system.
Collects in the more permanent cells (liver, heart,
etc.) of older persons
A brownish-yellow pigment first described in
hepatocytes and macrophages of rats with
experimentally induced cirrhosis of the liver.
Ceriod is rarely seen in humans.
Identification Procedure
Okajima technique
Prussian Blue
Hall (Bile) stain
Fontana Masson
Sudan Black B
Sudan Black B
(differentiated from
lipofuchsin by positive
acid fast staining as well)