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Key Documents

A5268

Sigma-Aldrich

Alcian Blue 8GX

powder

Synonym(s):

Alcian Blue, Ingrain Blue 1

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About This Item

Empirical Formula (Hill Notation):
C56H68Cl4CuN16S4
CAS Number:
Molecular Weight:
1298.86
Colour Index Number:
74240
EC Number:
MDL number:
UNSPSC Code:
12171500
PubChem Substance ID:
NACRES:
NA.47

form

powder

Quality Level

composition

Dye content, 45-65%

technique(s)

microbe id | staining: suitable

color

blue

solubility

H2O: 1 mg/mL

εmax

425 at 615-630 nm in water

application(s)

diagnostic assay manufacturing
hematology
histology

storage temp.

room temp

SMILES string

[Cl-].[Cl-].[Cl-].[Cl-].CN(C)C(\SCc1ccc2c3nc(nc4n5[Cu]n6c(nc7nc(nc5c8cc(CS\C(N(C)C)=[N+](\C)C)ccc48)c9ccc(CS\C(N(C)C)=[N+](\C)C)cc79)c%10ccc(CS\C(N(C)C)=[N+](\C)C)cc%10c6n3)c2c1)=[N+](/C)C

InChI

1S/C56H68N16S4.4ClH.Cu/c1-65(2)53(66(3)4)73-29-33-17-21-37-41(25-33)49-57-45(37)62-50-43-27-35(31-75-55(69(9)10)70(11)12)19-23-39(43)47(59-50)64-52-44-28-36(32-76-56(71(13)14)72(15)16)20-24-40(44)48(60-52)63-51-42-26-34(18-22-38(42)46(58-51)61-49)30-74-54(67(5)6)68(7)8;;;;;/h17-28H,29-32H2,1-16H3;4*1H;/q+2;;;;;+2/p-4

InChI key

CKLBXIYTBHXJEH-UHFFFAOYSA-J

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General description

Alcian Blue 8GX, also known as Ingrain Blue 1, is a basic copper phthalocyanine dye whose copper content imparts a blue color. It is tetravalent, cationic, and water-soluble in nature. It forms salt linkages with the acid groups of acid mucopolysaccharides.

Application

  • Alcian Blue 8GX has been used for the staining and precipitation of glycosaminoglycans and as a heteroglycan stain for neutral, sulfated, and phosphated mucopolysaccharides and glycosaminoglycans in tissues such as cartilage and extracellular matrices.
  • It has been employed in the in vivo visualization of intravascular Bonghan ducts and corpuscles in murine models.
  • It has been used to develop a novel histochemical staining method to assess multiple respiratory parameters in various species.

Features and Benefits

Desired staining patterns can be obtained by manipulating pH and salt concentrations.

Principle

The Alcian blue staining is easily combined with the Periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) reaction. In the tissue, acid mucosubstances are stained selectively and nuclear fast red is commonly used as counterstain. In combination with the PAS reaction, non-substituted polysaccharides, neutral mucopolysaccharides, muco- and glycoproteins, and glycol- and phospholipids can be visualized in addition. An Acetic acid-Alcian blue solution is used for the staining, whereby carboxylated and sulfatic proteoglycans are selectively stained when a pH of 2.5 is applied. The differentiation between carboxyl and sulfate groups is only possible at pH 1.

Storage Class Code

11 - Combustible Solids

WGK

WGK 3

Flash Point(F)

Not applicable

Flash Point(C)

Not applicable

Personal Protective Equipment

dust mask type N95 (US), Eyeshields, Gloves

Certificates of Analysis (COA)

Search for Certificates of Analysis (COA) by entering the products Lot/Batch Number. Lot and Batch Numbers can be found on a product’s label following the words ‘Lot’ or ‘Batch’.

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In vivo visualization of Bonghan ducts inside blood vessels of mice by using an Alcian blue staining method
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The quantitative determination of glycosaminoglycans in urine with Alcian Blue 8GX.
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