Mucosubstances in the normal human oesophageal epithelium. A comparison of periodic acid-silver and phophotungstic acid techniques.

Normal human oesophageal epithelium was investigated with the periodic-acid-silver methenamine technique and its variations to demonstrate neutral mucosubstances at the ultrastruct level. The results were compared with the acid phosphotungstic acid method. Neutral mucosubstances were shown in the cell coat and membrane coating granules by both techniques. The silver methods also demonstrated glycogen, the Golgi apparatus and dense bodies. The periodic acid-silver methenamine technique outlined positive material in the intercellular space of the prickle cell layer, but the other silver methods did not.