Re: What is difference between Safranin-O and Alcian Blue staining?

Hi,

Alcian blue is primarily used for demonstrating the prescence of acid
mucopolysaccharides and proteoglycans, which it does quite selectively.  
The advantage of using Alcian blue is it is easy to apply; for example it
stains mucin in such manner that additional stains produce little or no
alteration in colour. It reacts with mucin with such vigour that all common
histological reagents fail to dislodge it, and only prolonged treatment with
acid alcohol (2-24 hours) will reduce an overstained section to the required
intensity.

Safranin-O is used as a counterstain in some staining protocols, colouring
all cell nuclei red.  It can also be used for the detection of
cartilage, mucin and mast cell granules.The contrast enables one to see
the differences. 

To assess chondrogenesis, Alcian blue and Safranin-O are used to determine
whether cartilage matrix proteoglycan are expressed in histological samples.

Have fun with science!