Ventana Medical Systems, Inc. Mucicarmine Staining Kit 860-011

Mucicarmine Staining Kit is used to detect acid mucopolysaccharides (mucin). Mucin is a secretion of acid mucopolysaccharides and other substances produced by a variety of epithelial and connective tissue cells. In certain inflammatory processes and certain intestinal carcinomas, epithelial cells secrete excess mucin. Mucicarmine Staining Kit detects mucins of epithelial origin. Fibroblastic or connective tissue mucins may stain poorly. The purpose of this stain is primarily to determine the site of a primary tumor or to distinguish undifferentiated mucin-negative squamous cell lesions from mucin-positive adenocarcinomas. As is the case with current manual stains, mucicarmine stain may not be appropriate for detection of metastatic cancers of the stomach. The stain may also be used as an aid in the identification of Cryptococcus neoformans, a pathogenic fungus containing mucin in its capsule. Carmine and aluminum mordant combine to stain the epithelial mucin a deep rose to red color. Although the mechanism is not completely understood, it is believed that the aluminum forms a helate complex with carmine by dye-lake formation, to produce a net positive charge. The complex then attaches to the acid groups of the mucin. Tartrazine Counterstain is applied to provide a contrasting yellow background. Mucin stains deep rose. Cell nuclei stain black. Other tissue elements stain yellow from the counterstain. The capsule of Cryptococcus neoformans stains dark red.