Indirect sulphonation of mucopolysaccharides and glycogen in tissue sections with the use of bisulphite or dithionite after periodic acid oxidation.

Tissue mucopolysaccharides and glycogen can be indirectly sulphated after being oxidized by periodic acid and treated with sodium bisulphite or dithionite in aqueous solution. The sulphated sites are darkly stained by Roluidine Blue and realted dyes at pH less than 1.0. The background is very pale or colourless. The stained sections resist extraction with 1% hydrochloric acid for 48 hr, but can be extracted by 5% ammonium hydroxide in ethanol in 1 hr. Other oxidizing agents cannot be substituted for periodic acid.