Physiological effects of hypoxia and trypan blue in 17-day chick embryos.

Seventeen-day chick embryos were divided into 5 groups and treated as follows: (1) untreated, (2) yolk-sac injected with 0.1 ml of saturated trypan blue solution solution in sterile saline, (3) saline, (4) hypoxia, i.e., 10.5% oxygen, and (5) hypoxia plus trypan blue. After 5 h hypoxia-treated embryos had an increased mortality rate, severe hypoglycemia, reduced blood pH, elevated plasma potassium, and reduced CO2 content. Trypan blue treatment induced few deaths and few physiological imbalances. Hypoxia plus trypan blue was without synergistic effects and had effects that did not differ significantly from hypoxia alone. This lack of response of 17-day chick embryos to high doses of trypan blue may be related to a marked decline in oxygen consumption by the yolk at this age.     

Chlorazol Fast Pink B And Trypan Blue Tests for Virus and Other Proteinaceous Inclusions

A 1% solution of chlorazol fast pink B in 0.9% NaCl can be used like trypan blue to detect virus inclusions and proteinaceous entities in peelings from leaves or thin sections taken from living plant tissue. Like trypan blue, a solution of the pink dye causes somatic nuclei to swell and thus facilitates observation of their structure. The two dyes combine into a beautiful differential bicolored stain. Mix 5 ml of 0.5% trypan blue stock solution with 35 ml of 1% chlorazol pink B in 0.9% NaCl. Stain fresh tissue 1-2 minutes. The combination stain is superior to either dye alone for differentiating virus entities.     

Microspectrographic analysis of trypan blue-induced fluorescence in oocytes of the Japanese quail

Summary It was shown that the vital dye trypan blue injected subcutaneously is adsorbed on exogenous yolk and stored in oocytes of Japanese quails. The binding sites of the dye could be visualized by fluorescence microscopy. The spectral distribution of the trypan blue-induced fluorescence emitted by yolk granules was analyzed microspectrographically. The analysis revealed that yolk granules exhibit a deep red fluorescence radiation with a maximum intensity at 670 nm, when blue or green excitation light is used. This fluorescence was exclusively induced by the presence of trypan blue, and not by contaminants of the dye. The fluorescence intensity did not decrease during processing of the tissue throughout the different solvents routinely used in light microscopy, especially after fixation in Heidenhain's fluid, nor did it suffer from pronounced fading during irradiation of the tissue. Model experiments showed that the value of the fluorescence emission maximum was concentration-dependent, and that amounts as little as 5×10^–3 mg trypan blue per ml solution containing an excess of yolk as a substrate for the dye, could clearly be detected and measured.It is suggested that a highly diluted solution of trypan blue can be used without teratogenic effects, as a tracer for exogenous yolk uptake and migration into oocytes, and that fluorescence microscopy is a reliable method for its further localization. A detailed account of the procedure is reported.     

大鼠活体注射台盼蓝后肝和肾的组织学与组织化学变化的观察

大鼠连续4天腹腔注射1%台盼蓝后,观察隔天、隔周、隔二周后肝和肾的组织结构及PAS、AlP、AcP、G-6-Pase、Mg~(2+)-ATPase和SDH的活性变化。结果发现:肝细胞和肾小管的上皮细胞中有台盼蓝颗粒;肝PAS反应阴性;隔天后肝AlP、AcP、G-6-Pase和SDH活性增强,Mg~(2+)-ATPase活性减弱;肾的上述组化反应活性都减弱;隔二周后肝和肾的上述组化反应接近对照。实验结果提示:活体注射台盼蓝对肝和肾未构成实质性损伤,隔天后的组化变化可能是一种生理适应性反应。     

Inhibition of pinocytosis in rat yolk sac by trypan blue.

Day 17.5 yolk sacs from rats injected with partially denatured 125I-labeled bovine serum albumin (I-BSA) were cultured in vitro by a raft technique. The rates of release of [125I]iodotyrosine were similar in control yolk sacs and in yolk sacs from rats preinjected with trypan blue. Day 17.5 rat yolk sacs were also cultured in medium containing I-BSA. Following pinocytic uptake the substrate was degraded intracellularly and [135I]iodotyrosine released into the medium. Trypan blue, when present in the medium in concentrations above 100 mug/ml, inhibited pinocytosis of I-BSA and so decreased the rate of [125I]iodotyrosine production. Trypan blue similarly decreased the rate of pinocytic uptake of 125I-labeled polyvinylpyrrolidone. Pinocytic uptake of macromolecules was not decreased in yolk sacs from rats pretreated with trypan blue. The relevance of these results to the mechanism of teratogenic action of trypan blue is discussed. It is proposed that if trypan blue in teratogenic doses similarly inhibits pinocytosis by the yolk sac during the organogenetic period teratogenesis might result from a transient interruption in the flow of metabolites through the yolk sac to the embryo.     

Evaluation of the protective action of diphosphonic compounds against a T-lymphocyte lesion by antilymphocyte serum]

Rabbit antilymphocyte serum (ALS) and complement were used in doses killing 50% of lymphocytes (staining with a 1% solution of trypan blue). In rosette-forming and blast-cell transformation reactions the counts of rosette forming and transformed cells were 60 and 24% respectively, as compared to those in controls. After adding 0.1 ml of 10 mM solution of potassium hydroxyethylene-diphosphonate belonging to a group of synthetic diphosphonates, the protective effect was observed shown by that the counts of rosette-forming and transformed lymphocytes did not differ from the control ones, wherein the reactions were produced with intact cells.     

Amphetamines reduce embryonic size and produce caudal hematomas during early chick morphogenesis

Experiments were designed to study some of the similarities and differences in the effects of amphetamines and trypan blue on early chick morphogenesis. Both dextroamphetamine sulfate (0.5 mg/egg) and methamphetamine hydrochloride (1.0 mg/egg) were capable of inducing, in 3-day chick embryos, caudal hematomas which were similar in appearance and location to those routinely observed following treatment with trypan blue. It was found, too, that both dextroamphetamine and methamphetamine treated embryos frequently exhibited a significant decrease in crown rump length and cross-sectional area of the notochord, neural tube, dorsal aortae and whole body section, when compared with unopened or saline injected controls. Trypan blue treated embryos had only a rare decrease or increase in the size of structures when compared to either control group. These findings suggest that the amphetamines have an ability to decrease or retard embryonic growth in the chick.     

伊红、台盼蓝检测河蟹精子存活率的比较

对台盼蓝和伊红染色法检测河蟹(Eriocheir sinensis)精子存活率的方法进行了评价研究。结果表明,两种染色法死、活精子分别呈现出明显不同的染色特征:活精子无色透明,顶体中央凸起呈圆锥状,光镜下辐射臂及细胞边界清晰;死亡精子顶体着色,且中央有一染色较深的圆斑,核杯染色不明显,细胞体积变大,边界模糊。通过不同染色时间和不同染料浓度的比较发现,两种染色法最适染液浓度分别是0·25%的伊红和0·5%的台盼蓝,染色时间均以15min为佳。在此基础上,将新鲜精子和60℃水浴处理致死精子以不同的体积比混合,配成含致死精子比例为10%～90%的9个梯度样品,用伊红和台盼蓝分别测定各样品精子死亡率,并进行相关性分析。结果发现,各样品实测精子死亡率均略高于样品的理论死亡率,同时两种染色法实测值与样品理论值呈显著正相关(P<0·05),两种染色法之间亦呈显著正相关(P<0·05)。上述结果表明,伊红和台盼蓝可用于河蟹精子的活体染色,且两种染色法在对河蟹精子染色中具有一定的稳定性和可比性。     

Non-surgical (laparoscopic) uterine flushing and egg recovery technique in the squirrel monkey (Saimiri sciureus)

The present study involved six female and one male squirrel monkeys (Saimiri sciureus). Seventeen uterine flushings were done using laparoscopy including one trial flushing of trypan blue solution. In each case, 1.5 ml to 2.5 ml of normal electrolyte solution with 5% dextrose was flushed through the uterine lumen with a 25 ga, 5/8″ hypodermic needle, and a 3ml disposable syringe. An average of 73.2% of flushed fluid was recovered through a polyethylene catheter inserted into the cervical canal. Two ova were recovered by this technique. This research was supported by grants from the National Foundation—March of Dimes, the National Institute of Health and an NIH Research Career Development Award. Approved by the Director, Michigan Agricultural Experiment Station, Journal series No. 7466.     

Rapid selection of viable transplantable human fetal pancreatic islets by trypan blue exclusion

A rapid method of separating viable from nonviable human fetal pancreatic islets prior to transplantation is needed to quantify grafted tissue and optimize the possibility of successful treatment of diabetes mellitus in the recipient. After incubation with 0.04% trypan blue in isotonic Krebs-Ringer buffer solution for 15 min, the percentage of islets that excluded trypan blue was found to correlate well with fractional stimulated insulin secretion rates. The incubation procedure did not alter the subsequent insulin secretory capacity of the islets. Trypan blue exclusion rapidly and reliably identifies viable functional islet tissue prior to transplantation.     

Isolation and characterization of epithelial cells of colon mucosa: preliminary results

A procedure for the isolation of epithelial cells from rat and human large bowel is described; the minced tissue was carefully washed with saline and incubated for 45 min in a collagenase-jaluronidase solution; the dispersion of the epithelial cells was achieved by a subsequent treatment with the calcium chelator EDTA. The isolated cells were characterized by cytological and histochemical (PAS, alkaline phosphatase, N-acetyl-D-glucosaminidase) procedures; viability index was assessed by the trypan blue exclusion test; the ability to grow in culture on both liquid and semisolid media was also tested. This method can be successfully applied either to normal or neoplastic colonic mucosa, the resulting cell suspension being suitable for further characterization.     

Colorimetric determination of microgram quantities of polylysine by trypan blue precipitation

A simple and sensitive method for the determination of polylysine in solution is described. Polylysine is quantitatively precipitated with trypan blue. The absorbance of unbound dye in the supernatant is inversely proportional to the concentration of this polyamino acid. The precipitation is identical for all sizes of polylysine of molecular weight 13,000 or higher, and is prevented by the addition of either polyanions or serum. The measurable range of polylysine hydrobromide is between 1 and 10 micrograms/ml, which is about 10-fold lower than that by the published methyl orange precipitation method.     

The Demonstration of Beryllium Oxide in Paraffin Sections with Chromoxane Stains

Aqueous solutions of the arylmethane dyes Chromoxane pure blue BLD (C.I. No. 43825) and Chromoxane pure blue B (C.I. No. 43830) will stain beryllium oxide. In the presence of EDTA the staining of other metals is masked. As a specific stain for BeO, formol saline fixed paraffin sections are hydrated and stained for 1 hr with either 0.1 gm of pure blue BLD in 100 ml of pH 4.0 Na-acetate buffer or with 0.1 gm of pure blue B in 1 N NaOH adjusted to pH 9.0 with HCl. To mask interference from other metal ions, 9 gm of Na₂-EDTA is added to 100 ml of the stain solution. BeO is stained blue, organic tissue components are either unstained or pink. Results of tests against other materials show that a high degree of specificity may be expected from these dyes. A 1% aqueous solution of neutral red may be used as a counterstain.     

Improved Fixation in Vitally Stained Methylene Blue Preparations

The present paper reports that ammonium molybdate dissolved in physiological saline for amphibian and mammalian tissues, and in sea water for squid tissues, forms a fixing solution that greatly reduces cellular distortion in vitally stained permanent methylene blue preparations.     

Staining of Bacterial Colonies on the Millipore Filter to Improve Contrast

About 5 ml of 1% blue tetrazolium in 70% ethyl alcohol were poured over mature colonies of Pasteurella pestis and Malleomyces pseudomallei on Millipore filters (MF), contained in the filter holder apparatus, and allowed to drain through with the suction applied. The MF was washed with water and then covered with about 10 ml of 0.001% aqueous trypan blue and drained. This technique provided vivid white colonies sharply defined against a blue background.

Another method utilized 0.1% quinacrine-HCl (Atabrine) to stain colonies yellow and 0.05% vital red to stain the MF pink to light red.     

Studies on the mechanism of trypan blue teratogenicity in the rat developing in vivo and in vitro

Trypan blue is a potent teratogen in vivo and in vitro in the rat. Many of the abnormalities produced by trypan blue--including swollen neural tube and pericardium, subectodermal blisters, hematomas, and generalized edema--may result from altered fluid balance in and around the embryo. The present study demonstrates relationships between changes in the fluid environment around the embryo and appearance of anomalies. Rat embryos were exposed in utero or in vitro to trypan blue during the early period of organogenesis. Both exposures resulted in defects that are typical of trypan blue treatment. Osmolality of exocoelomic fluid (ECF) was measured on gestation day 10 in vivo and day 12 in vitro, both after 48 hr of exposure to trypan blue. In both cases ECF osmolality was significantly lower than controls. This was correlated with the presence of edema-related anomalies in the embryo. On gestation day 11 in vivo, three days after maternal injection of trypan blue, ECF osmolalities were significantly higher than controls; however, there was tremendous variability in this parameter in day 11 treated embryos, and some had ECF osmolalities below the control range. Increased frequency of abnormalities was correlated with abnormal ECF osmolality, below and above the control range. Trypan blue probably exerts its teratogenic effects by disturbing the function of the visceral yolk sac. The movements of an amino acid and a monosaccharide across the visceral yolk sac were measured on gestation day 12 embryos in vitro. This aspect of yolk sac function was not altered by trypan blue exposure. Ultrastructure of the visceral yolk sac was observed after trypan blue exposure in vivo and in vitro. Endodermal cells in trypan blue-treated yolk sacs contained fewer large, electron dense lysosomes than controls. These were replaced by numerous small vacuoles, which may contain trypan blue. Trypan blue causes osmotic changes in the rat embryo in vivo and in vitro. These changes are correlated with embryonic malformations. Alterations in yolk sac ultrastructure indicate that trypan blue affects the function of this membrane.     

Decontamination of aqueous solutions of biological stains.

Aqueous solutions of a number of biological stains were completely decontaminated to the limit of detection using Amberlite resins. Amberlite XAD-16 was the most generally applicable resin but Amberlite XAD-2, Amberlite XAD-4, and Amberlite XAD-7 could be used to decontaminate some solutions. Solutions of acridine orange, alcian blue 8GX, alizarin red S, azure A, azure B, Congo red, cresyl violet acetate, crystal violet, eosin B, erythrosin B, ethidium bromide, Janus green B, methylene blue, neutral red, nigrosin, orcein, propidium iodide, rose Bengal, safranine O, toluidine blue O, and trypan blue could be completely decontaminated to the limit of detection and solutions of eosin Y and Giemsa stain were decontaminated to very low levels (less than 0.02 ppm) using Amberlite XAD-16. Reaction times varied from 10 min to 18 hr. Up to 500 ml of a 100 micrograms/ml solution could be decontaminated per gram of Amberlite XAD-16. Fourteen of the 23 stains tested were found to be mutagenic to Salmonella typhimurium. None of the completely decontaminated solutions were found to be mutagenic.     

Observations on the penetration and uptake of trypan blue in embryonic membranes of the mouse

Summary Pregnant female Swiss albino mice were injected with 0.4 ml of 1% solution of trypan blue on day 7 1/2, 8 1/2, 10 1/2 and 11 1/2 of gestation. Animals were sacrificed 1–6, 24, 48, 72 and 120 hours after injection and the localization of trypan blue granules was determined in histological sections.Five hours after injection, the dye began to accumulate in the proximal yolk sac epithelium, and within 24 and 48 hours this cell layer was heavily loaded with dye. The dye never became detectable in any other membranes or the embryo proper. This pattern of dye distribution was the same whether injection was initiated at the 7 1/2 8 1/2 day stage of gestation or was delayed until the 10 1/2–11 1/2 day stage.Histochemical tests for acid phosphatase and monoamine oxidase revealed that the cells of the vitelline membrane from embryos of trypan blue-injected mothers stained very much less intensely than the vitelline membrane tissue from saline-injected controls.Implications of these observations for theories of action of trypan blue as a teratogenic agent were discussed.Dedicated to Professor Berta V. Scharrer on her 60th birthday in friendship and gratitude.This study was supported by USPHS Research Grant NB 01716 from the National Institute for Neurological Diseases and Blindness, National Institutes of Health and by Grant NIH ST 1 GM 102This work was carried out in the laboratory of Dr. Max Hamburgh, Department of Anatomy, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, while Dr. Laslo Nebel was a visiting professor on sabbatical leave from the Hebrew University, Hadassah Medical School, Jerusalem, Israel.Acknowledgment is made to Mr. Dan DiDomizio, who collaborated as a technical assistant in this project, in partial fulfillment for research credit as an undergraduate student in the Department of Biology of the City College of New York.     

Staining Reactions of some Anionic Disazo Dyes and Histochemical Properties of the Red Impurity in Trypan Blue

Some staining properties of 10 anionic disazo dyes are clarified by comparison with previous chromatographic analysis. Trypan blue contains both blue and red components and the purified blue fraction displays no color shifts in tissue sections. Evans blue, Niagara blue 2B, Niagara sky blue, Niagara sky blue 4B and Niagara sky blue 6B generally resemble trypan blue. Congo red is a metachromatic dye and the only known example among anionic dyes of established purity whose color shows shifts in tissue sections and also in solutions with certain basic compounds. Other red dyes (Congo corinth, trypan red and vital red) are not metachromatic. The red dye impurity of trypan blue selectively stains nuclei which are pycnotic, degenerating or undergoing no further division. This reaction is apparently related to basic protein content. Other reactions of the red fraction of trypan blue (mammalian erythrocytes, blood plasma) are not fully explained on this basis.     

DNA degradation and changes in the permeability and form of Ehrlich ascites tumor cells when incubated in an anaerobic medium without glucose

After a 3-hour incubation of the Ehrlich ascite tumor cells in buffered Hanks solution, without glucose and oxygen, the extensive cell injuries were observed. The time-course of appearance of these injuries was as follows: cell blebbing, staining of the cells with trypan blue, and then their staining with ethidium bromide. The DNA degradation registered with fluorometric method coincided in time with cell staining with trypan blue. All injuries (except DNA degradation) were delayed at pH 6.0 compared with those at pH 7.3. Glucose added to the cell suspension greatly protected the cells from these injuries, although DNA degradation at pH 6.0 in these conditions was a little higher than that at pH 7.3.