Gallocyanin as A Nuclear Stain

Gallocyanin has been used successfully as a nuclear stain. Sections are cut by the freezing method of either fixed or unfixed tissue. The tissues are warmed (not exceeding 70°C.) for 2-4 minutes in the gallocyanin solution. A counterstain may be used if desired. The most effective are Biebrich scarlet, phloxine, or eosin Y. The sections are then dehydrated and mounted in clarite. The nuclear pattern is clearly demonstrated and the sections are permanent.     

DAPI as a Useful Stain for Nuclear Quantitation

A simple-to-use fluorescent stain, 4',6-diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI), visualizes nuclear DNA in both living and fixed cells. DAPI staining was used to determine the number of nuclei and to assess gross cell morphology. Following light microscopic analyses, the stained cells were processed for electron microscopy. Cells stained with DAPI showed no ultrastructural changes compared to the appearance of cells not stained with DAPI. DAPI staining allows multiple use of cells eliminating the need for duplicate samples.     

DAPI as a Useful Stain for Nuclear Quantitation

A simple-to-use fluorescent stain, 4′,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI), visualizes nuclear DNA in both living and fixed cells. DAPI staining was used to determine the number of nuclei and to assess gross cell morphology. Following light microscopic analyses, the stained cells were processed for electron microscopy. Cells stained with DAPI showed no ultrastructural changes compared to the appearance of cells not stained with DAPI. DAPI staining allows multiple use of cells eliminating the need for duplicate samples.     

Basic Fuchsin as A Nuclear Stain

Five distinct nuclear stains and staining procedures which utilize basic fuchsin as the dye have been studied, compared and tested on a Feulgen-weak fungus, Blastomyces dermatitidis, and other fungi.

Aqueous basic fuchsin has been shown to be an excellent, though impermanent, stain with which to study the nuclei of this and other fungi. The conditions under which formaldehyde acts as a mordant for basic fuchsin and produces a permanent nuclear stain have been established.

Comparison of crystal violet and basic fuchsin suggests that the mordanting action of the aldehyde operates through the para-amino groups of the dye. Certain other basic dyes were not mordanted by formaldehyde.

Gentle acid hydrolysis of the tissues has been found to be essential both to the specificity of the dye as a nuclear stain and to the mordanting effect of the aldehyde.

The possible relationship of these observations to the Feulgen reaction is discussed. A protocol for the method developed is presented.     

Phosphotungstic Acid-Chromic Acid as a Selective Electron-Dense Stain for Plasma Membranes of Plant Cells

A mixture consisting of 1% phosphotungstic acid (PTA) in 10% chromic acid (CrO₃) selectively stains the plasma membrane of plant cells. Whole tissue or pelleted cell fractions are prepared for electron microscopy using conventional methods including glutaraldehyde fixation and OsO₄ postfixation, dehydration in acetone and embedding in Epon. To stain the plasma membrane, thin sections are transferred with a plastic loop to the surface of a 1% aqueous solution of periodic acid for 30 min for destaining. Following transfer through 5 distilled water rinses, the sections are exposed to the PTA-CrO₃ mixture for 5 min, rinsed and mounted on grids for viewing with the electron microscope. The selectivity of the stain is retained in homogenates and serves to identify the plant plasma membrane in cell fractions.     

Crystal Violet as A Nuclear Stain for Gaffkya Tetragena and Other Bacteria

A method is given to stain the nucleus of Gaffkya tetragena and other bacteria. Only water solutions of crystal violet, mercuric chloride, and nigrosin are used. While the application of heat (50°C. for 20 seconds) is not absolutely necessary, it facilitates the decolorizing process. Some of the nuclei of cells from old cultures were found in various stages of division. The nucleus of a mature cell divides, and each daughter nucleus undergoes a second division usually in a plane at right angles to that of the first division. The nuclear division indicates cell development in units of four cells each. The method was found reliable for demonstrating the nucleus at various periods and stages of growth.     

Hematoxylin as a Pituitary Stain

The accurate picture of the acidophil granules of the anterior pituitary which is provided by iron hematoxylin can be combined with the differential staining of the basophils by either the periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) or combined aldehyde-fuchsin-PAS procedures. To accomplish this the two stages of the iron hematoxylin technique are separated so that mordanting in iron alum precedes and application of hematoxylin follows the basophil procedures.     

The Site of Action of the Crystal Violet Nuclear Stain

Enzymatic treatment of bacterial cells prior to staining revealed that the crystal violet nuclear stain reacts with protein components of the nucleus as contrasted to the desoxyribonucleic acid specificity of some nuclear stains.     

Rhodanile Blue; a Rapid and Selective Stain for Heinz Bodies

Equal volumes of heparinized or EDTA-treated blood and a 0.5% solution of rhodanile blue (E. Gurr, Michrome No. 1156) in 1% NaCl were mixed and allowed to stand for 2 rain. Thin smears were then prepared, air dried and examined under oil. Heinz bodies stained deep purple and contrasted well with the yellow-orange to blue-green cytoplasm. Durable mounts could be made by applying a cover glass with a resinous mediiun to the dry smear (D. P. X. was used). The reticular material in reticulocytes did not stain in 2 min but could be stained by allowing the stain to act 5 min.     

Gomori's Hematoxylin as a cHromosome Stain

The chromic hematoxylin of Gomori (1941) can be used as an excellent chromosome stain after hydrolysis of the tissue in warm 1-N hydrochloric acid. The hydrolysis must be accurately timed for different material as in the case of the Feulgen reaction. The staining of sections can be performed at room temperature and requires about 15 minutes. For pieces of tissue and whole preparations, it is recommended to stain at 60°C. for 40 minutes. Sections stained at room temperature can be differentiated in 1% hydrochloric acid alcohol for one minute and can be counterstained with phloxine according to Gomori's formula. Whole preparations or sections stained at 60°C. must be differentiated in 45% acetic acid for half an hour or more. Tissue pieces may, after staining, be squashed and examined in the acetic acid, but the preparations can also be made permanent. The blue-black stain is very selective and has the advantage of giving high contrast, and it is nonfading, and insoluble in water and other common reagents. It proved definitely superior to other chromosome stains for difficult material such as planarians, rabbit blastocysts, and cleavage stages of sea urchins. Though both the procedure and the result of this method show some similarity to the Feulgen reaction nothing can be said with certainty about its chemical basis.     

Aluminon: its limited application as a reagent for the detection of aluminum species

The triammonium salt of aurin tricarboxylic acid, commonly referred to as aluminon, forms a dye that has been used for the colorimetric determination of Al(III) species. We have reviewed the pertinent literature on the reaction of aluminon with respect to the metallic species that form colored aluminon complexes. The effects of experimental variables, such as time, temperature, and pH, upon the color development of the aluminon complex are also presented. Organic and inorganic species, particularly Be(II) and Fe(III), which can affect color formation, are described. The use of aluminon as a histochemical staining agent for the detection of aluminum requires verification by atomic absorption spectrophotometric analysis or other quantitative techniques.     

Importance of Cationic Channels for Functioning of the Nuclear Envelope of Neurons as a Calcium Store

The membrane of the endoplasmic reticulum is, in fact, an extension of the nuclear envelope of eukaryotic cells; both these compartments can fulfill the function of intracellular calcium stores. Using a patch-clamp technique, we studied the biophysical properties of the channels expressed in the inner nuclear membrane of pyramidal neurons of the rat hippocampal CA1 area, in particular of large-conductance cationic channels and calcium channels of inositol trisphosphate receptors (the main channels in membranes of this type). As the results of the measurements showed, the activity of channels of both types demonstrates clearly pronounced voltage dependences. The probability of their open state (P _o) depends on the voltage inside the nuclear envelope lumen. At positive potentials, the activity of these channels is significantly more intense than at negative potentials. Moreover, channels of both types are reversibly blocked at considerable negative potentials. We believe that this property of ion channels in the nuclear envelope is an important factor responsible for the control of calcium signals in the cell nucleus. We propose a hypothesis on the mechanism underlying termination of Ca²⁺ release from such intracellular stores, which is based on the specificity of the voltage dependence of ion channels of the above-mentioned types.     

The Use of Sudan Black B as a Bacterial Fat Stain

Sudan black B was introduced as a specific fat stain for the detection of lipids in tissue sections by L. Lison in 1934. Saturated solutions of Sudan black B in 70% alcohol or in ethylene glycol stain the fat bodies of bacteria a deep blue-black color, and this dye is recommended as superior to the other Sudans.

The method used in staining the bacteria was to suspend a loopful of the cells in a drop of the stain solution and to prepare flat wet mounts. The organisms giving positive fat tests with Sudan black B included Bacillus cereus, Bacillus mycoides, Azotobacter beijerinckii, Rhizobium leguminosarum, Mycobacterium avium, Mycobacterium leprae, Oospora lactis, Bacillus tumescens, water spirilla, and fungi.     

Hematoxylin Substitutes Gallein as a Biological Stain

Gallein, hitherto seldom used in histological staining, semes excellently in iron metachrome mixture as a nuclear stain, and with ferrous solfate can give striking detail to muscle axxis striation, at the same time staining erythragtes, myainated nerve fibers and cutaneous and vascular elastin. Metabme mixtures with alnminnm and chromium are relatively ineffective, that with phosphotungstic acid gives stnmg magmta staining withmt the red blue dichroism shown by hematoxyliu. In the Clara reaction iton is well shown; enterochromaffin dog react, but not as well as with hematoxylin; the keratin Ptoreim, react well; the eosinophil leucocyte granule stains moderately gay purple. Young mammalian elastin that colors blue with hematoxylii failed to stain with gallein. If currat difficulties with metachrome iron hemaboxylim continue, gallein can afford an effective replacement.     

Chemical Aspects of Santalin as a Histological Stain

Recent research on the chemical nature of the red dyes isolated from Pterocarpus santalinus and certain West African plants, viz., Baphia nitida, Pterocarpus osun and Pterocarpus soyauxii, have been reviewed. P. santalinus contains santalins A, B and C., but no santarubin. Santalins and santarubins have been found in P. osun, P. soyauxii and B. nitida. The structural formulae of the santalins are presented and their differences from santarubins indicated. Santalins A and B have some similarities in structure with hematein. This is probably responsible for their staining properties; the possible mechanism of staining is discussed.     

Zinc-Specific N-(6-Methoxy-8-Quinolyl)-Para-Toluenesulfonamide as a Selective Nontoxic Fluorescence Stain for Pancreatic Islets

Separation of the endocrine from the exocrine pancreatic tissue by fluorescence activated sorting has been limited by the lack of an ideal fluorescent label for islet tissue. Our studies indicates the zinc-specific stain N-(6-methoxy-8-quinolyl)-para-toluenesulfonamide (TSQ), has characteristics ideal for use as a fluorescent label for islet tissue. Dispersed rat pancreas cells stained with TSQ produced bright blue fluorescence when excited by UV light [peak emission wavelength at 480 nm. maximal excitation at 365 nm). The fluorescence was specific for islet tissue as confirmed by counterstaining with the islet-specific stain dithizone and there was minimal background staining of exocrine tissue. Stained tissue remained brightly fluorescent for 2 hr. with some fading by 4 hr. Injection of TSQ into rats at a concentration sufficient to produce staining of islets produced no toxicity discernible at 4 months. The viability of isolated rat islets stained with TSQ was maintained as shown by supravital staining, in vitro secretion of insulin, and reversal of diabetes after transplantation of stained islets into diabetic syngeneic recipients.     

多肽铬螯合物对糖尿病小鼠肝脏蛋白质表达的影响

目的:研究多肽铬螯合的对糖尿病小鼠肝脏蛋白质表达的影响,探讨其治疗糖尿病的机理.方法:通过腹腔注射四氧嘧啶建立糖尿病小鼠模型.将小鼠分为正常组、模型组和胶铬组,胶铬组以灌胃方式加入多肽铬螯合物;以光镜及HE染色观察三组小鼠肝脏形态及组织学的变化,采用SDS-PAGE实验和非SDS-PAGE检测三组小鼠肝脏蛋白质表达.结果:光镜及组织学观察结果显示多肽铬螫合物可以有效地减轻四氧嘧啶对肝细胞造成的损伤.模型组肝脏25kDa-35kDa之间的某种蛋白表达升高而多肽铬螯舍物可以降低此种蛋白的表达,初步推断这种蛋白质为SOD.结论:多肽铬螯合物能够通过降低四氧嘧啶造成的肝脏中抗氧化有关的蛋白质代偿性升高而祈祷保护肝脏的作用,是一种新型的治疗糖尿病所致的肝损伤的活性物质.