Two Organic Fixatives for Acid Mucopolysaccharides

Cetyl pyridinium chloride, 0.5% in 4% aqueous formaldehyde and 5-aminoacridine hydrochloride, 0.4% in 50% aqueous ethanol, have been tested as fixatives for acid mucopolysaccharides in a variety of tissues. These solutions are superior to 4% aqueous formaldehyde, Carnoy's fluid and basic lead acetate for this purpose and also give good nuclear fixation. Tissues containing these mucopolysaccharides are particularly well defined with the acridine-ethanol fixative.