Which connective tissue cell is demonstrated using Sudan Black staining in the material?

• A. Fibroblasts
• B. Mesenchymal
• C. Adipose
• D. Mast Cells

Answer: (C)

Sudan Black staining targets lipids because it is a fat-soluble dye that binds to neutral fats and phospholipids, staining them dark. Adipocytes are the connective tissue cells that store large lipid droplets in their cytoplasm. When lipids are preserved in the tissue, Sudan Black B highlights these droplets, making adipocytes appear as dark, lipid-filled cells within connective tissue. The other listed cells don’t have abundant neutral lipids in their cytoplasm to produce the same strong dark staining: fibroblasts and mesenchymal cells are not lipid-rich, and mast cells are identified mainly by their granules using other stains rather than by Sudan Black’s lipid visualization.