Preservation and demonstration of mast cells in human apical granulomas and radicular cysts.

Abstract

abstract – The investigation concerns the preservation and demonstration of human mast cells in undemineralized material. The material comprised human apical granulomas and radicular cysts dissected from extracted teeth or obtained by apicoectomy and cyst removal. Chronically inflamed human gingiva, rat tongue, and rat peritoneum served as control tissues. The following fixations were tested: 4% formaldehyde solution buffered to pH 7.2, Newcomer's fluid, and a 4% aqueous solution of basic lead acetate with formalin 1:10 added. The following dyes and fluorochromes were tested: toluidine blue in various concentrations and at various pH values, Astra‐blue, the esterase substrate naphthol‐AS‐D‐chloroacetate in combination with GBC, acridine orange in various concentrations and at various pH values, berberine‐sulfate, and thioflavin T. Abundant mast cells were demonstrated in all granulomas and cysts with at least one of the staining methods tested. A 4% lead acetate solution with formalin added proved the best fixative for the preservation of the human mast cells, whereas staining with Astra‐blue appeared the superior technique for demonstrating the human mast cells. Acridine orange showed the best secondary fluorescence of the fluorochromes tested. The best results with this dye were obtained using a 0.03% solution in 5% AlSO4.