Histochemical investigation of acid mucopolysaccharides in amyloid, colloid and hyaline.

The carbohydrate component in amyloid was histochemically compared with that in colloid or hyaline. Alcian blue, azure A, and periodic acid Schiff were used to stain mucopolysaccharides. In a further attempt to identify various polyanions, staining was carried out with alcian blue containing various concentrations of electrolytes. Methylation, saponification, acid hydrolysis, and digestion with streptomyces or testicular hyaluronidase, or chondroitinase ABC were also employed. The results obtained suggest that the presence of heparitin sulfate in amyloid, of chondroitin sulfate A in hyaline, and of chondroitin sulfate C in colloid.