Abstract
An infrequent observation of assessing hematoxylin and eosin sections is the blue staining of mucins (for example those in goblet cells). This is believed to be due to a low concentration of alum and high pH of the hematoxylin staining solution. This study examines the incidence of blue mucin in various sites of the gastrointestinal tract using a low alum, high pH hematoxylin solution. The results are compared with a conventional hematoxylin solution, iron alum celestine blue method and an alcian blue (pH 2.5)-periodic acid-Schiff (AB-PAS) stain to characterize the type of mucin demonstrated. This study is the first to offer evidence that blue-stained mucin with low alum, high pH hematoxylin corresponds with carboxylated mucins as shown by the AB-PAS stain in the gastrointestinal tract. Iron alum celestine blue was also found to stain the mucin of a proportion of rectal biopsies and appendix as well as the carboxylated mucin of one duodenal biopsy.
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