COMPARATIVE STUDY OF HISTOLOGICAL AND HISTOCHEMICAL PROPERTIES OF PERITONEAL MAST CELLS OF ALBINO RAT USING TWO TYPES OF FIXATIVES

Abstract

Objectives: To make a comparative study of histological and histochemical properties of peritoneal mast cells in albino rat using neutral buffered formalin and formal alcohol as fixatives. Methods: The stretch preparation from Albino rat peritoneum was made on chemically clean glass slides and immediately placed into the fixatives. Results: With toluidine blue (pH 4.4), the mast cells stained deep purple and similar reaction was obtained with toluidine blue at pH 2. These staining reactions indicate the presence of substantial amount of heparin trisulfate, small amount of heparin monosulfate, and neutral mucopolysaccharide. Conclusion: Heparin trisulfate is an active form of heparin and is the main constituent of the mast cell granules of the albino rat.