title: Human cutaneous mast cells--a study of fixative and staining reactions in normal skin.
abstract: Routinely used formal saline fixation reduces the number of demonstrable mast cells in human skin by up to 30% compared with paired specimens fixed in Carnoys medium. Using metachromatic (toluidene blue), orthochromatic (alcian blue/safranin), enzymatic (chloroacetate esterase reaction) and immunofluorescence (berberine and fluorescein conjugated avidin) staining techniques, mast cells were demonstrated and quantified. Alcian blue/safranin and fluorescein-conjugated avidin were both superior to the other staining methods used. We recommend the use of Carnoys medium fixed tissue stained with either alcian blue/safranin or conjugated avidin for optimal visualization and assessment of mast cells in human skin.
authors: Laboratory of Applied Dermatopathology, United Medical School, London, U.K.
authors: A C
authors: AC
authors: Markey
authors: L J
authors: LJ
authors: Churchill
authors: D M
authors: DM
authors: MacDonald
mesh_terms: D000085:Acetates; D019342:Acetic Acid; D000423:Alcian Blue; D002452:Cell Count; D002725:Chloroform; D000431:Ethanol; D005260:Female; D005404:Fixatives; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D006652:Histological Techniques; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008407:Mast Cells / Q000166:cytology*; D010619:Phenazines; D012867:Skin / Q000166:cytology*; D012965:Sodium Chloride; D013194:Staining and Labeling / Q000379:methods*; D014048:Tolonium Chloride
chemical_list: D000085:Acetates; C033474:Carnoy's solution; D005404:Fixatives; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D010619:Phenazines; D014048:Tolonium Chloride; D000431:Ethanol; D012965:Sodium Chloride; D002725:Chloroform; D000423:Alcian Blue; D019342:Acetic Acid; C009195:safranine T