[Histonet] mast cell in guinea pig

[Elizabeth Chlipala]

Hello All
 
I'm looking for a stain that will identify mast cells in guinea pigs.  I
have run both giemsa (modified dif quick) and 0.4% Toluidine Blue.  I
normally get very good staining of mast cells with the toluidine blue.
I normally run this stain on mouse and rat tissue.  This is the first
time I have tried this stain in guinea pigs.  Upon review of the slides
I could not located one mast cell in 11 lung sections.  I know they have
to be there.  Does the metachromatic nature of the t. blue stain have to
do with the amount of histamine present in the cells?  I have read in
the literature that guinea pigs and humans have less histamine present
in their mast cells than rats, hamsters and mice.  Is anyone aware of a
modification that will stain mast cells in guinea pig?  Any help would
be appreciated.  I would prefer to stick with a histochemical method.
I'm aware of Immunohistochemical staining for mast cell tryptase, but in
researching this I could not find any references for guinea pig tissue.
 
Thanks in advance.
 
Liz
 
Elizabeth A. Chlipala, BS, HTL(ASCP)QIHC
Manager
Premier Laboratory, LLC
P.O. Box 18592
Boulder, Colorado 80308
Office: (303) 735-5001
Fax: (303) 735-3540
liz <@t> premierlab.com
www.premierlab.com
 
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