Guess the slide

02 September 2022

Can you guess which part of the body is featured in this colourful slide?

By colouring transparent tissue, we can view detailed structures under a microscope, giving us the ability to look for cell types and bacteria.

Did you guess the stomach? If so, you were correct!

The slide shows a section of stomach coloured with a stain called Alcian Blue Periodic Acid Schiff (ABPAS), a common staining method to differentiate special types of proteins called mucins.

The right side of the slide shows stomach surface with cells stained a bright magenta colour - these cells produce and naturally secrete neutral mucins, which are stained by the Periodic Acid Schiff (PAS) part of the staining method.

The left side of the slide shows stomach epithelium which, by reactive or reparative response to chronic injury or irritation, has transformed into intestinal (colonic type) cells. These cells produce and secrete acid mucins which are stained a stunning blue by the Alcian Blue (AB) part of the staining method.

Read more about the additional methods of tissue analysis available to assist in diagnosis.