[Histochemical studies of bladder tumors].

Twenty seven bladder tumors, three ureteral tumors and one renal pelvic tumor were studied by means of light microscopic histochemical methods for demonstration and identification of acid mucopolysaccharides. Alcian blue (pH 1.0), alcian blue (pH 2.5), periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) and aldehyde-fuchusin stainings were performed. These stainings showed that all tumor specimens contained acid mucopolysaccharides. For identifying individual acid mucopolysaccharides, enzyme digestion procedures were performed prior to staining with alcian blue. (streptomyces hyaluronidase, testicular hyaluronidase, chondroitinase ABC, chondroitinase AC, keratanase, heparinase, heparitinase.) According to these experiments, high-grade, and high-stage tumors contained large amounts of sulfated mucopolysaccharides. Squamous cell carcinomas of the bladder contained especially large amounts of chondroitin sulfate AC.