An Alcian blue (pH 2.5)-PAS-keratin immunoperoxidase method for the simultaneous demonstration of keratin and neutral and acidic mucosubstances.

A method is proposed for the simultaneous staining of neutral and acidic, periodate reactive and nonperiodate reactive mucosubstances, glycogen and keratin in paraffin sections. Briefly, sections are stained by the Alcian blue (pH 2.5)-PAS method, followed by a peroxidase-antiperoxidase immunohistochemical stain for keratin. The proposed method modifies an existing method, and expands the range of polysaccharides and mucosubstances which may be demonstrated. The proposed method is easily performed within a single working day and promises to be of value in surgical pathology as well as in studies of bronchial carcinogenesis.