Improved demonstration of mast cells using alcian blue tetrakis (methylpyridium) chloride.
Many batches of alcian blue dye are incompletely soluble at the low pH used for demonstrating mast cells. An improved technique using alcian blue tetrakis (methylpyridium) chloride (alcian blue pyridine variant) is described here. It produces stronger mast cell staining than other alcian blue stains tested.
Henwood
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A
Histopathology Department, The Children's Hospital at Westmead, Australia. anthonyh@chw.edu.au
D000423:Alcian Blue / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D008407:Mast Cells / Q000473:pathology*; D009298:Nasal Polyps / Q000473:pathology*; D009455:Neurofibroma / Q000473:pathology*; D011522:Protons; D013194:Staining and Labeling / Q000379:methods; D014048:Tolonium Chloride / Q000032:analysis*
C418049:Alcian blue pyridine variant; D011522:Protons; D014048:Tolonium Chloride; D000423:Alcian Blue