STAINING, PRACTICAL AND THEORETICAL 



ALCIAN BLUE - CHLORANTINE FAST RED 



For selective staining of mucopolysaccharides and for 

 morphological studies of connective tissue, cartilage and 



bone 



Solutions required: 



A. Ehrlich haematoxylin 



B. Alcian blue i% aqueous . . . . 50 ml. 

 Acetic acid 1%, aqueous . . . . 50 ml. 



C. Phosphomolybdic acid 1% aqueous 



D. Chlorantine fast red 0-5%, aqueous 



Technique: 



1. Fix tissues in Bouin or in 10% formalin and embed in the 

 usual way. 



2. Stain sections in Ehrlich haematoxylin for ten to fifteen 

 minutes. 



3. Blue in tap water or in lithium carbonate solution. 



4. Wash in distilled water. 



5. Stain for ten minutes in the Alcian blue. 



6. Wash in distilled water. 



7. Immerse in the phosphomolybdic acid solution for ten 

 minutes. 



8. Wash in distilled water. 



9. Stain for ten minutes in the chlorantine fast red solution. 



10. Wash in distilled water. 



1 1 . Dehydrate ; clear in xylol and mount. 



Results: 



Nuclei are stained purplish blue. Mucin, granules of mast cells, 

 ground substance of cartilage and some types of connective tissue 

 fibres: bluish green. Collagen fibres and ossein: cherry red. 

 Cytoplasm and muscle : pale yellow. 



Reference: Lison, L. (i954)- 



108 



