Abstract
We have examined the influence of preservation before fixation and the procedure of making permanent section on the staining properties of mast cells in human nasal mucosa. Operative specimens of human nasal mucosa was fixed in MLA (Mota's basic lead acetate fixative). And sections were stained with toluidine blue solution.
1. The influence of preservation of specimen in saline upon the stainability of mast cells.
Before fixation a part of specimen was rinsed and preserved in saline for 1 hr. Another part of specimen was fixed directly in MLA without preserving in saline. There was no significant differnce of mast cell counts whether specimen was preserved in saline before fixation or not.
2. The influence of mounting procedure on the staining property of mast cells.
After fixation in Mota's BLA fixative, sections were stained with toluidine blue PH0.5. One drop of toluidine blue was put on the section and immediately mast cell count was done for 20min. After counting mast cells, the same section was rinsed in water and taken through graded alcohls to xylene and mounted in coverbond malinol. Then mast cell counting was done again. The number of mast cells in permanent section were fewer than that of mast cells counted immediately after staining. About 20% of mast cell stainability was reduced after mounting procedure. The reduction of stainability was seen in epithelial layer and in lamina propria at same grade.
