MEDICAL AND BIOLOGICAL STAINING TECHNIQUES 



MUCICARMINE (Mayer) 



Solutions required: 



Mucicarmine, stock solution . . i volume 

 Alcohol 70% . . . . . . 10 volumes 



Note: This diluted solution should be freshly 

 prepared. 



Technique: 



Tissues should be fixed in absolute alcohol for five to eight 

 hours and embedded in paraffin wax, Celloidin or L.V.N. 



1. Bring paraffin sections down to distilled water; then stain 

 for ten to twenty-five minutes in the above solution. 



2. Wash rapidly with distilled water. 



3. Dehydrate with 70%, 95% and absolute alcohol. 



4. Paraffin sections are cleared in xylol; Celloidin or L.V.N. 

 sections are cleared in terpineol or origanum oil. 



Results: 



Mucin is stained red. 



MUCICARMINE (Southgate) 



This is used in accordance with the Mayer technique, but i vol- 

 ume of the stock solution is diluted with 9 volumes of distilled 

 water instead of 10 volumes 70% alcohol. 



Southgate's modification gives more uniform results than Muci- 

 carmine prepared by Mayer's original formula. 



MUCIHAEMATEIN 



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