Mucopolysaccharides, or mucins, are a group of glycoconjugates consisting of polysaccharides linked to proteins. Mucins are gel-like secretions from various epithelial cells and tissues in the body, including:
- Arterial walls
- Cartilage
- Cornea
- GI Tract
- Heart valves
- Mast cells
- Ovarian follicles
- Skin
Mucins are generally categorized as acid mucins or neutral mucins for the purpose of histotechnique.
