Stain - ABPAS

Question 1

when do you use ABPAS stain to stain a sample?

Answer 1

to view both neutral and acidic musin and mucosubstances including those in:
- goblet cells of the small intestine
- gastric mucosa
- intervertebral discs

Question 2

once stained, what differentiates Acid, Neutral and Mixed mucins?

Answer 2

Acid - bright blue
neutral - bright magenta
mixed - purple

Question 3

Alcian Blue

Answer 3

binds to carboxyl and sulphate groups of mucopolysaccharides - staining the mucins BLUE

Question 4

Periodic acid

Answer 4

oxidising agent
oxidises diol groups in glycogen and mucins
CREATES ALDEHYDE GROUPS

Question 5

Schiff’s solution

Answer 5

reacts with the aldehyde groups to form a pink/magenta colour

Question 6

Haemoxylin

Answer 6

stains nuclei blue
counterstain to provide contrast

Question 7

acid alcohol differentiation

Answer 7

prevent background staining by removing excess schiff’s sol and periodic acid

Question 8

bluing solution

Answer 8

weak alkaline
neutralises any acids
enhance blue colour of nuclei stained by the haemoxylin