Alcian Blue Dye Solution

Alcian blue is any member of a family of polyvalent basic dyes which belongs to cationic dye and initially was used for dyeing textile fibers. This dye is soluble in water and has a blue color due to the presence of copper in the molecule. It is a dye specific for acid mucins, which can bind to acidic groups to form salt bonds and stain the tissues with compounds containing anionic groups, such as acid mucosubstances and acidic mucins. Alcian blue can make acid mucopolysaccharides in the cytoplasm appear blue, while the neutral mucins are not stained. It is often used in paraffin section technology to distinguish carboxyl mucus from sulphate mucus, identify mucinous epithelial tumors, and mark the cartilage in bone tissue. A general method uses analcian blue solution at pH 2.5 which can stain many acidic mucins and acid mucosubstances. The alcian blue solutions with even lower pH valuestain only strongly acidic sulfated mucosubstances (pH 0.4) or acidic sulfated mucosubstances (pH 1.0).

This product containing 1% alcian blue dye, pH is about 2.5, which can be used for cartilage tissue staining. It can also be used in combination with PAS, which can distinguish between acid mucins and neutral mucins, with acid mucins appearing blue and neutral mucins red.

Room temperature, the shelf life is12 months.

1. Paraffin slides dewaxed as follows: Two changes of pure xylene for 20 min, two changes of pure ethanol for 5min; 75 % ethanol for 5 min; keep slides in tap water.

2. The slides stained in Alcian blue dye for 10~15 min, and then washed in running water.

3. The slides stained inNuclear fast red (G1035) for 3 min, and then washed in running water (optional).

4. Three changes of pure ethanol for 5min, two changes of pure xylene for 5 min transparent and then coverslip with neutral resin.

5. Observed under microscope and took images.

1. The staining time can be adjusted according to the degree of staining. The longer the staining time, the darker the blue tissue.

2. If it is necessary to observe the tissue morphology, the Nuclear fast red dye solution (G1035) can be used for redyeing and the section background color will be red.

3. Please wear lab coat and disposable gloves during operation.

For Research Use Only!