[Histonet] Re: blue mucin

Wed Feb 15 16:25:24 CST 2006

Ha Ha,

I remember the story of one lab who also made up Hx the natural way (??)
and left it on the window sill to ripen, unfortunately, the lab was on
the lower ground floor and it seems the young school boys used to use
the opened brown bottle for target practice while they were waiting for
the bus. Reminds me of the reaction of orcein and ammonia!!

Regards

Tony Henwood JP, MSc, BAppSc, GradDipSysAnalys, CT(ASC)
Laboratory Manager & Senior Scientist
The Children's Hospital at Westmead,
Locked Bag 4001, Westmead, 2145, AUSTRALIA.
Tel: 612 9845 3306
Fax: 612 9845 3318

-----Original Message-----
From: Kemlo Rogerson [mailto:kemlo.rogerson <@t> waht.swest.nhs.uk] 
Sent: Wednesday, 15 February 2006 7:47 PM
To: Tony Henwood; Michael LaFriniere; histonet <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu
Subject: RE: [Histonet] Re: blue mucin

I assume that is the function of glycerol in haematoxylin solutions, to
stabilise them against overoxidation. It's a memory from those days I
made haematoxylin solutions the nice smell of Ehrlich's (was it
Ehrlich's?) you got a smell (?an ester) when it was ripe. Ripening big
flasks of haematoxylin in the window sill, mine were 'organic' never
having the oxidiser added but naturally ripened.

Is that when you are truly old? Reminiscing over haematoxylin
production?

Kemlo Rogerson
Pathology Manager
Ext  3311
DD   01934 647057
Mob 07749 754194

-----Original Message-----
From: Tony Henwood [mailto:AnthonyH <@t> chw.edu.au] 
Sent: Tuesday, February 14, 2006 9:41 PM
To: Kemlo Rogerson; Michael LaFriniere;
histonet <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu
Subject: RE: [Histonet] Re: blue mucin

Hi Kemlo,

As with most problems, there are often several factors that enter into
the equation. Old over-oxidised haematoxylins, in my experience tend to
colour tissue elements brown but these solutions are definitely old. 

Fresh haematoxylins, and those that are well within their shelf life
tend to stain mucins when they are not acidified enough.

A haematoxylin that is a little old and more neutral would probably
stain mucins as you have suggested without showing the brown effect.

Regards

Tony Henwood JP, MSc, BAppSc, GradDipSysAnalys, CT(ASC) Laboratory
Manager & Senior Scientist The Children's Hospital at Westmead, Locked
Bag 4001, Westmead, 2145, AUSTRALIA.
Tel: 612 9845 3306
Fax: 612 9845 3318

-----Original Message-----
From: Kemlo Rogerson [mailto:kemlo.rogerson <@t> waht.swest.nhs.uk] 
Sent: Tuesday, 14 February 2006 7:51 PM
To: Tony Henwood; Michael LaFriniere; histonet <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu
Subject: RE: [Histonet] Re: blue mucin

Doesn't that just get round the problem of 'over-oxidised' stain? Is
that not just curing the symptoms but the problem remains that the
haematoxylin is over oxidised?

Kemlo Rogerson
Weston General Hospital
Pathology Manager
Ext  3311
DD   01934 647057
Mob 07749 754194

-----Original Message-----
From: Tony Henwood [mailto:AnthonyH <@t> chw.edu.au] 
Sent: Monday, February 13, 2006 10:07 PM
To: Michael LaFriniere; histonet <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu
Subject: RE: [Histonet] Re: blue mucin

Michael,

The mucin staining is a function of the Hematoxylin pH. Lowering the pH
(usually by adding acetic acid) can significantly reduce mucin staining.

Regards

Tony Henwood JP, MSc, BAppSc, GradDipSysAnalys, CT(ASC) Laboratory
Manager & Senior Scientist The Children's Hospital at Westmead, Locked
Bag 4001, Westmead, 2145, AUSTRALIA.
Tel: 612 9845 3306
Fax: 612 9845 3318

-----Original Message-----
From: histonet-bounces <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu
[mailto:histonet-bounces <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu] On Behalf Of Michael
LaFriniere
Sent: Tuesday, 14 February 2006 5:21 AM
To: histonet <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu
Subject: [Histonet] Re: blue mucin

Any help would be appreciated....

I am noticing recently on routine H&E sections, the mucin on colon
biopsies only, demonstrating a strong blue color....I know the mucin is
picking up the hematoxylin stain and not differentiating in the acid
rinse. I was wondering if anybody has demonstrated this recently and the
possible corrections to end this aggravation. This leads me to believe
that it may be something with the patient prep prior to the biopsy? I am
using the Richard Allen (7221) Hematoxylin and routine reagents.  Any
suggestions would be greatly welcomed!

Thank you

Michael R. LaFriniere
Executive Director
Cytology Services of Maryland (CSM)
301-206-2555 ext 27
301-206-2595 fax
michael.lafriniere <@t> csmlab.com

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