title: [A comparison of methods for identifying mast cells of Cyprinus carpio].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare different identifying methods of the mast cells of red crucian carp (Cyprinus carpio).
  
  
  METHODS
  The gill filaments were taken from Cyprinus carpio infected with Edwardsiella tarda and fixed in Bouin's solution. The hematoxylin-eosin (HE), toluidine blue (TB), Alcian blue (AB), neutral red, Masson trichrome, May-Grunwald Giemsa (MGG) stainings and streptavidin-biotin complex (SABC) immunohistochemical method were used to observe the mast cells. The smears of head kidney stained by Wright-Giemsa were used as a supplementary method.
  
  
  RESULTS
  AB and TB were desirable staining solutions for clearly displaying mast cells, and MGG staining came second. Immunohistochemical method showed the small number of tryptase-positive mast cells and a weak positive reaction. The cells in smears were dispersed and showed different developmental stages.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The immunohistochemistry and the histochemical staining combined with Wright-Giemsa-stained smears are two good ways to identify the mast cells of fish.
authors.affiliation: College of Marine Life Sciences, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266003, China.
authors.forename: Wenzhi
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Cao
authors.affiliation: College of Marine Life Sciences, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266003, China.
authors.forename: Yun
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: College of Marine Life Sciences, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266003, China.
authors.forename: Guoliang
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.affiliation: College of Marine Life Sciences, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266003, China.
authors.forename: Ting
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Wu
mesh_terms: D000423:Alcian Blue / Q000737:chemistry; D000818:Animals; D002347:Carps / Q000382:microbiology; D020609:Edwardsiella tarda / Q000502:physiology; D004801:Eosine Yellowish-(YS) / Q000737:chemistry; D005880:Gills / Q000737:chemistry / Q000166:cytology* / Q000382:microbiology; D006416:Hematoxylin / Q000737:chemistry; D007150:Immunohistochemistry / Q000379:methods*; D008407:Mast Cells / Q000737:chemistry / Q000166:cytology*; D008751:Methylene Blue / Q000737:chemistry; D009499:Neutral Red / Q000737:chemistry; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D013194:Staining and Labeling / Q000379:methods*; D014048:Tolonium Chloride / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: C043260:May-Grunwald Giemsa; D014048:Tolonium Chloride; D009499:Neutral Red; D000423:Alcian Blue; D008751:Methylene Blue; D004801:Eosine Yellowish-(YS); D006416:Hematoxylin