title: Evaluation of improved zirconyl hematoxylin compared to the classical pH 2.5 Alcian blue method for demonstrating acid mucins.
abstract: Acid mucins have diagnostic significance for many pathological conditions, especially in certain tumors. We compared the classical pH 2.5 Alcian blue method to a new, improved zirconyl hematoxylin (IZH) method for demonstrating acid mucins using two fixatives: Bouin`s solution and 10% neutral buffered formalin (NBF). We used rabbit small intestine, large intestine and trachea. Specimens were fixed in Bouin`s solution and NBF. A total of 160 paraffin sections were prepared and stained with pH 2.5 Alcian blue and IZH. The stained acid mucins were assessed using digital image analysis software. Stained mucins were quantified for each staining procedure and fixative. No important differences were observed in acid mucin staining by either method after either fixative. The IZH method provides results as good as pH 2.5 Alcian blue and can be used to obtain reliable staining for acid mucins.
authors.affiliation: Department of Histopathology and Cytology, Faculty of Medical Laboratory Sciences, University of Khartoum, Khartoum, Sudan.
authors.forename: Sa-E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Batran
authors.forename: Y M-A
authors.initials: YM
authors.lastname: Zakout
mesh_terms: D019342:Acetic Acid; D000423:Alcian Blue; D000818:Animals; D004396:Coloring Agents; D005404:Fixatives; D005557:Formaldehyde; D041981:Gastrointestinal Tract / Q000378:metabolism; D006416:Hematoxylin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D008297:Male; D009077:Mucins / Q000378:metabolism*; D010851:Picrates; D011817:Rabbits; D013194:Staining and Labeling / Q000379:methods*; D014018:Tissue Distribution
chemical_list: D004396:Coloring Agents; D005404:Fixatives; D009077:Mucins; D010851:Picrates; C418048:zirconyl hematoxylin; D005557:Formaldehyde; C026239:Bouin's solution; D000423:Alcian Blue; D019342:Acetic Acid; D006416:Hematoxylin