Which enzyme is commonly paired with Alcian blue in mucin demonstration?

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Multiple Choice

Which enzyme is commonly paired with Alcian blue in mucin demonstration?

Explanation:
Hyaluronidase is used with Alcian blue because Alcian blue at pH 2.5 stains acidic mucopolysaccharides (glycosaminoglycans) in mucins. Hyaluronidase digests those glycosaminoglycans, so pretreating tissue with it will reduce or remove the Alcian blue staining in mucin-rich areas. This confirms the presence of acidic mucins. The other enzymes don’t target mucopolysaccharides—diastase breaks down glycogen, amylase digests starch, and protease digests proteins—so they don’t serve this specific confirmation in mucin demonstration.

Hyaluronidase is used with Alcian blue because Alcian blue at pH 2.5 stains acidic mucopolysaccharides (glycosaminoglycans) in mucins. Hyaluronidase digests those glycosaminoglycans, so pretreating tissue with it will reduce or remove the Alcian blue staining in mucin-rich areas. This confirms the presence of acidic mucins. The other enzymes don’t target mucopolysaccharides—diastase breaks down glycogen, amylase digests starch, and protease digests proteins—so they don’t serve this specific confirmation in mucin demonstration.

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