SarrJuirides (Carbohydrates) 200 



Acid Mucopolysaccharides 



Alcian Blue Method (stedman, 1950; modified by mowry, 1956)' 

 fixation: 10% formalin or any general fixative. 



o 



solution: 



alcian blue 8GX, C.I. 74240 0.5-1 .0 gm. 



distilled water 100.0 ml. 



glacial acetic acid 3.0 ml. 



Filter; add thymol crystal to prevent mold. 



procedure: 



1. Deparaffinize and hydrate slides to Avater. 



2. Stain in alcian blue: .SO minutes. 



3. Rinse in distilled water. 



4. Counterstain with hematoxylin, safranin, or other nuclear stain. 



5. Dehydrate, clear, and moiurt. 



results: 



acid mucopolysaccharides — blue green 

 nticlei — depending on stain tised 



comments: 



1. Can be followed by PAS (page 298) for demonstration of both 

 acidic groups and 1,2 glycols, or the Fetilgen Reaction (page 293). 



2. Lison (1954) counterstains with chlorantine fast red for efficient 

 differentiation of mucin from collagen (mucin — bluish green; col- 

 lagen — cherry red): Follow steps 1, 2, and 3 above: Then 



a. Treat with phosphomolybdic acid, 1% aqueotis: 10 minutes. 



b. Rinse in distilled water. 



c. Stain in chlorantine fast red: 10-15 minutes. 



chlorantine fast red 5B^ 0.5 gm. 



distilled water 100.0 ml. 



d. Rinse in distilled water, dehydrate, clear, and motmt. 



3. Williams and Jackson (1956) observed possible diffusion of acid 

 mucopolysaccharides tnider aqueous conditions. The fixative should 

 form complexes insoluble in water and alcohol. They suggest two 

 possible soltuions containing organic chemicals which form such in- 

 soluble complexes with acid mucopolysaccharides: 



5 



Also see Metachromatic Method, p. 2S(). 

 ''Echvard Gurr, 42 Upper Richmond Road \Vest, London S\V 14, or Ciba, Ltd., Montreal, 

 Canada. 



