Comparison of intestinal goblet cell staining methods in turkey poults

This study compared the intestinal goblet cell density of turkey poults at two different ages using Alcian blue-Periodic acid shiff (AB-PAS) and Mucicarmine stains. Neutral mucins are stained with PAS while acidic mucins are stained with AB. Mucicarmine is specific to the mucins of epithelial origin and it is currently used for human samples, Mucicarmine may have advantages for use in animals as a result of the methodological simplicity of staining as compared with AB-PAS. Jejunum samples were taken from 80 turkey poults at 21 and 28 d, and were assigned to two treatments which consisted of AB-PAS and Mucicarmine stains in a completely randomized design. A mid-section of jejunum from each bird was taken and placed in 10% buffered formalin for 48 h, dehydrated with ethanol, cleared with Sub-X and placed in a paraffin, prepared on two slides, and then tissues were briefly cleared and hydrated. Each slide was stained with either AB-PAS reagents or Mucicarmine reagents. Goblet cell counts were taken from four villi per slide and the villi height was measured and averaged. There was no difference in the goblet cell density between the staining methods AB-PAS and Mucicarmine at 21 or 28 d post-hatching. These results show that both staining methods are viable for assessment of goblet cell density in turkey poults.