What are the Advantages and Limitations of Alcian Blue Staining?
Alcian Blue has several advantages:
High specificity for acidic mucosubstances. Versatility in staining at different pH levels. Compatibility with other staining techniques for multi-staining protocols.
However, there are also some limitations:
Requires careful pH adjustment for specific staining. Can sometimes stain non-targeted molecules, leading to background staining. Needs proper fixation to prevent loss of mucosubstances.