Mary Ann
The answer can be found in the Conn's.  The original Alcian blue has been used
by different manufacturer's and the BSC has received different samples.
According to the book (Conn's)  - the *GX was formulated by Scott in 1964,
according to Mowry and Emmel with the same substituent only at 2,4 in place of
1,2,3,4.. The 8GX is more soluable in water.
EM Science ( used to be BDH in Canada ) sell the 8GX. under the Harleco brand
name, available from such distributors as VWR @ 1-800-932-5000
cat# 109-09

for more infromation please see our website
http://www.emscience.com/search/index.asp  ( Literature / cell diagnostics)

Regards
Gordon Fenn
EM Science,  Toronto Canada
An Affilate of Merck KGaA Darmstadt, Germany






Connie McManus <conmac@cc.usu.edu> on 06/12/2001 04:54:33 PM

To:   Mary.Ann.Deathridge@mcmail.vanderbilt.edu, Histonet@pathology.swmed.edu
cc:    (bcc: Gordon Fenn/EMI/Merck)
Subject:  Re:



Mary Ann,
according to my Biological Stains cross reference (from Harleco),  Alcian
Blue 8GS and the 8GN are one and the same dye... Color Index is 74240 for
both.  Oddly, I don' see anything about the 8GN mentioned in Conn's, but
there is a pretty good discussion on the 8GX.  Owing to the CI being the
same for all of these (8GS, 8GN and 8GX), these are all the same dye.

One thing Conn's mentions is the lack of consisitency as a dye for acidic
polysaccharides (refer to 9th ed., p. 454., second paragraph)...so, beware.

Connie McManus (who is hoping I can convince my boss I need the 10th
edition of Conn's!!!)

At 12:32 PM 6/12/01 -0500, Mary.Ann.Deathridge@mcmail.vanderbilt.edu wrote:
>Question:  Difference between Alcian Blue 8GS and Alcian Blue 8GN and can
>these be substituted one for the other in a procedure.
>What does the S and N suggest?  Thanks in advance.
>
>
>
Connie McManus
Veterinary Diagnostics Lab
Utah State University
Logan, UT
USA