68 Microscopic Histochemistry 



Method 



Use celloidin sections or protect paraffin sections by dip- 

 ping them into dilute (0.5-1 per cent) collodion in alcohol- 

 ether between the first and second alcohols. Prepare the 

 following stock solution: 



Carmine 2 g. 



Potassium carbonate .... 1 g. 



Potassium chloride 5 g. 



Distilled water 60 ml. 



Simmer mixture gently for a few minutes; cool. Add 20 ml. 

 of concentrated ammonia water. This solution will keep in 

 the refrigerator for several months. For use, dilute 10 ml. 

 with 15 ml. of concentrated ammonia water and 15. ml. of 

 95 per cent alcohol. This solution must be made fresh every 

 time. Filter if not perfectly clear. 



Stain nuclei rather dark with hematoxylin; rinse slide. 

 Stain for 5-10 minutes in the dilute mixture. Differentiate in 

 60 per cent alcohol to which a few drops of ammonia water 

 are added. Dehydrate and mount. Glycogen brilliant red. 



b) Mucin.— 



Mayer s^^ mucicarmine stain— This is an empirical but 

 specific stain for most types of mucus. Some varieties, how- 

 ever, are not stained; species and organ differences are quite 

 marked. Mucus staining with mucicarmine also exhibits 

 metachromatic properties, whereas mucicarmine-negative 

 mucus is not metachromatic (see under "Metachromasia"). 



Method {modification of SouthgateY^ 



Prepare the following stock solution: simmer gently a mix- 

 ture of 1 g. of carmine, 0.5 g. of anhydrous aluminum chloride 

 (or 0.9 g. of AICI3 -61120), 1 g. of aluminum hydroxide, and 

 100 ml. of 50 per cent alcohol until it turns into a deep ruby- 

 red liquid. This usually takes a few minutes. Let stand for 24 

 hours and filter; keep filtrate in the icebox. 



53. Mayer, P.: Mitt. zool. Stat. Neapel, 12:303, 1896. 

 ^. Southgate, H. W.: J. Path. & Bact., 30:729, 1927. 



