In Van gieson's stain, what color represents collagen?

In Van Gieson's stain, collagen fibers are specifically identified by their pink or deep red coloration. This staining technique is particularly useful for visualizing connective tissues and differentiating between various tissue components. The van Gieson solution typically contains a mixture of picric acid, which stains cytoplasm and muscle tissues yellow, and acid fuchsine, which strongly binds to collagen, thus rendering it pink or deep red. This contrast allows for a clear recognition of collagen in histopathological samples, aiding in the evaluation of tissue architecture and potential pathologies related to connective tissues. Understanding this coloration is crucial for interpreting histological slides effectively, contributing to accurate diagnoses in histopathology.