Periodic Acid Schiff Staining to Detect Mott Cells, Aberrant Plasma Cells Containing Immunoglobulin Inclusions Called Russell Bodies
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Updated: Jul 18, 2026

Detecting Glycogen in Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells with Periodic Acid Schiff Staining
Published on: December 23, 2014
Pedram Mahmoudi Aliabadi1, Khlowd Al-Qaisi1, Vishnu Reddy2
1Deutsches Rheuma-Forschungszentrum Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
Abstract:
Hematoxylin and eosin staining is widely used for routine histopathological analysis under light microscopic examination to determine alterations of tissue architecture and cellular components in animal studies. Aside from hematoxylin/eosin staining, periodic acid Schiff (PAS) staining is used to detect polysaccharides and carbohydrate-rich macromolecules, and is essential in immunological fields for evaluation of glomerular lesions of kidneys in autoimmune animals. Since erythrocytes are not stained by PAS, this stain is also helpful for identifying changes in immune cells in the red pulp of the spleen, which is filled with erythrocytes. This article describes a protocol to detect Mott cells, bizarre plasma cells containing immunoglobulin inclusion bodies (Russell bodies) in the cytoplasm. The protocol can be used for formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue sections, frozen tissue sections, tissue-touch preparations, blood films, and cytocentrifuged cell smears. © 2024 The Author(s). Current Protocols published by Wiley Periodicals LLC. Basic Protocol 1: Detection of Mott cells by PAS staining in formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue sections Basic Protocol 2: Detection of Mott cells by PAS staining in frozen tissue sections, touch preparations, blood films, and cytocentrifuged cell smears.
Insights
This study presents a protocol using periodic acid Schiff (PAS) staining to detect Mott cells, which are plasma cells with immunoglobulin inclusions. This method is effective across various sample types for histopathological analysis.
Area of Science:
- Histopathology
- Immunology
- Cell Biology
Background:
- Hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining is standard for routine histopathology.
- Periodic acid Schiff (PAS) staining detects polysaccharides and is crucial in immunology for evaluating kidney lesions.
- PAS staining does not stain erythrocytes, aiding immune cell identification in the spleen.
Purpose of the Study:
- To describe a protocol for detecting Mott cells, characterized by immunoglobulin inclusion bodies (Russell bodies).
- To provide a reliable method for identifying these specific plasma cell alterations.
Main Methods:
- Utilizes periodic acid Schiff (PAS) staining.
- Applicable to formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue sections.
- Also effective for frozen tissue sections, touch preparations, blood films, and cytocentrifuged cell smears.
Main Results:
- Successful detection of Mott cells using the described PAS staining protocol.
- Demonstrates the versatility of the protocol across different sample preparations.
Conclusions:
- The PAS staining protocol provides an effective means for identifying Mott cells.
- This method is adaptable for various histopathological and cytological sample types.
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