Staining Sulfated Mucopolysaccharides in Sections by Means of Acriflavine

Abstract

Acriflavine gave insoluble salts with sulfated esters. Frozen or paraffin sections (fixed in 10% formol or Carnoy's solution) were stained in M/20 acriflavine solution and excess dye was rinsed in 95% alcohol. Then nuclei were stained with Meyer's haemalum. Thereafter the sections were washed in water, dehydrated in alcohol, cleared in xylene and mounted in balsam. Sulfated esters in the tissue sections were colored yellow or orange-yellow, generally more densely in frozen than in paraffin sections.