Characteristic mucins | Complete type | Incomplete type | |
---|---|---|---|
Type 1, neutral mucins | Type 2, acid sialomucins | Type 3, acid sulphomucins | |
These staining characteristics regard the columnar cells, not the goblet cells, which stain blue with Alcian blue. | |||
Mucin histochemistry | |||
Alcian blue and periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) | magenta | Blue | Blue |
Alcian blue and high iron diamine | Blue | Brown–black | |
Alcian blue and Gomori‘s Aldehyde Fuchsin | Blue | Purple |