Demonstration of mast cell granules by the cetylpyridinium chloride-acid dye (CPC-AD) and cetylpyridinium chloride-phosphotungstic acid (CPC-PTA) methods.

Cetylpyridinium chloride (CPC) and cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CETAB) are bound to polyanionic substances by ionic bonds between the positively charged nitrogen of the quaternary salts and the negative groups of polyanions. The mast cell granules and some other structures treated with CPC or CETAB react selectively with acid dyes and fluorochromes. In ultrathin sections treated with CPC, phosphotungstic acid (PTA) greatly enhances the electron density of the granules of mast cells. The possible mechanism of acid dye and PTA binding by CPC or CETAB treated tissues is discussed.