Name a substance that removes connective tissue mucin.

• A. Hyaluronidase
• B. Diastase
• C. Amylase
• D. Protease

Answer: (A)

In connective tissue, the mucin in the extracellular ground substance is primarily hyaluronic acid, a mucopolysaccharide. Hyaluronidase cleaves the glycosidic bonds in hyaluronic acid, breaking down this mucin and reducing the viscosity of the tissue’s ground substance. This helps reagents diffuse more readily during processing and staining. The other enzymes target molecules they cannot break down: diastase (amylase) digests starches, amylase acts on carbohydrates, and protease digests proteins. None of them removes hyaluronic acid mucin.