Dear AEJNSN?

Any number of tissues can contain mast cells! If one wishes to use them
as staining controls, one should consider that there two major
sub-populations of mast cell, which differ considerably in their
stainability, depending on the staining protocol and the fixative used.
Connective tissue mast cells are probably the easiest to stain with
traditional dye technology. Mucosal mast cells can be more problematic,
particularly with formaldehyde fixation. We use small bowel as a
control( with a variety of fixatives) because it contains both
populations, other tissues to consider, for the same reason, would
include lung and nasal polyp. The number of mast cells demonstrable
varies with the technology used. In human material, immunohistochemistry
for CD117 or Mast cell tryptase will reveal the greatest number( in rat
RMCPI or RMCPII). Dye technology, independent of fixative, will only
stain approximately 60-90% of mast cells ( paper submitted). I would
suggest that you read chapter 24, p695, by Lennart Enerbach. In
"Histochemistry in Pathological Diagnosis". Editor Samuel S. Spicer.
1987. Marcel Dekker Inc. NY. ISBN 0-8247-7408-6.

Hope this helps.

Bryan
>----------
>From: 	AEJNSN@aol.com[SMTP:AEJNSN@aol.com]
>Sent: 	April 7, 1999 5:16 PM
>To: 	Histonet@pathology.swmed.edu
>Subject: 	Mast cell control
>
>We are looking for a mast cell control.  In any of the literature I read it 
>says any tissue with mast cells in it should work..wel the problem is finding
>tissue.  Please do not laugh at such a question but does anyone have any 
>suggestions as to specific tissue that contains mast cells?  Thank you for 
>your help.
>
>