Which stain is used for demonstration of glycogen?

• A. Best carmine
• B. PAS with or without diastase
• C. Hematoxylin
• D. Alcian blue

Answer: (A)

Glycogen shows up in tissue sections as carbohydrate-rich cytoplasmic granules, so a stain that binds polysaccharides is ideal for making it visible. Best carmine is a carbohydrate-specific stain that highlights glycogen in bright red, providing crisp, easy-to-see localization within cells. This makes it a traditional, straightforward choice for demonstrating glycogen in paraffin sections, especially in liver and muscle.

In contrast, hematoxylin targets nuclei and general tissue structure, Alcian blue stains acidic mucopolysaccharides like mucins, and PAS stains a broad range of polysaccharides (including glycogen) but is not as specifically focused on glycogen as Best carmine.