A NEW TECHNIQUE FOR THE SIMULTANEOUS DEMONSTRATION OF LIPID AND ACID POLYSACCHARIDES ON THE SAME TISSUE SECTION

Abstract

A new combination staining technique which utilizes alcian blue for acid polysaccharides and oil red O in carbowax "400" for lipid is described. This technique, combined with a carbowax embedding procedre, provides a method which fulfills all of the requirements for the study of these substances in the same tissue section; i.e., (1) lipid and polysaccharide loss during the preparation of the tissue for staining is minimal, (2) the lipid stains sharply, (3) the polysaccharide stain is specific, (4) the stains contrast sharply, (5) the lipids and polysaccharides are identifiable "in statu nascendi", and (6) thin adjacent sections can routinely be prepared.