Mastocytes, autofluorescent and silver reducing elements in bronchial carcinoids

Pigmented periductal cells (ochrocytes) in mammary dysplasias: Their nature and significance

“…Although mast cells are present in mammary connective tissue (Ehrenbrand, 1964;Lee and Lascelles, 1970), and were clearly visible in this study in the alcian blue-Unna Pappenheim preparations, they were readily distinguishable from ochrocytes. The PAS-positivity of the mast-cell granules (Selye, 1965) and their autofluorescence (Gloor, Campiche and Baumann, 1972) is unlikely to lead to confusion for mast cells lack pigment and are stainable by alcian blue. The reducing capacity of the pigment in ochrocytes, as displayed in the Schmorl's and the Masson-Fontana techniques, resembles melanin.…”