Mayer's Mucicarmine Method

EMS26320

Components

Mucicarmine Stock Solution

Metanil Yellow 0.25%

Weigert's Iron Haematoxylin A

Weigert's Iron Haematoxylin B

Fixation

10% Buffered Neutral Formalin

Section

Paraffin @ 6µm

Staining Procedure

1. Deparaffinise and hydrate to distilled water.
2. Stain in working Weigert's Haematoxylin [mix 1 volume of Weigert's A, plus 1 volume of Weigert's B,] for approximately seven minutes. Wash in running water for 10 minutes.
   
   ***If using a microwave oven - place slides in working Weigert's
   Haematoxylin solution and heat in the microwave oven for 30
    seconds and immediately transfer to tap water.
3. Stain in the working Mucicarmine (mix 1 volume of Mucicarmine Stock, plus 4 volumes of tap water) for 60 minutes of longer. Prepare working solution fresh, use once and discard.
   
    ***If using a microwave oven - place slides in Mucicarmine Working Solution and heat in the microwave oven for 60 seconds. The hot stain jar is removed from the oven and allowed to remain at room temperature (22°C) for 5 minutes.
4. Rinse quickly in distilled water for 2 or 3 changes.
5. Counterstain in Metanil Yellow, 0.25%, for 15 seconds to 1 minute or longer.
    (Older solutions require longer times)
6. Rinse quickly in distilled water. (2-4 seconds)
7. Dehydrate in 95% and 100% alcohol's, two changes; clear through two changes of Xylene.
8. Mount with Permount or other synthetic medium.

Stain Results

Note: The rose color due to carmin staining will be obscured if sections are overstained with Weigert's Hematoxylin and/or Metanil Yellow solution.

References

Mallory, F.B.: Pathological Technique, Hafner Publishing Co., N.Y., c. 1961, p. 130 Luna, L.G., (ed), AFIP Manual of Histologic Staining Methods, 3 rd . ed., McGraw-Hill Co. , NY, c. 1968, pp 161-162.

Sheehan , D.C. & Hrapenak, B.B., Theory and Practice of Histotechnology, 2 nd ed.,
 C.V. Mosby Co., St. Louis, c. 1980, pp 168-169.