Specific staining of nuclei with aqueous solutions of celestin blue B and gallocyanine.

Abstract

This paper presents methods for specific staining of nuclei with aqueous solutions of celestin blue B and gallocyanine in tissue sections from which RNA has been extracted selectively with concentrated phosphoric acid at 5 degrees C for 20 min or by hydrolysis in 6 N HCl at 28 degrees C for 15 min. It has been found that pH of the freshly prepared celestin blue B dye solution is 3.0 and that of an aqueous solution of gallocyanine is 2.8. These pHs can be lowered to 1.5 with concentrated sulphuric or nitric acid and at this pH staining of the nuclei is possible. But with concentrated sulphuric or nitric acid and at this pH staining of the nuclei is possible. But if the pHs are lowered with concentrated hydrochloric or phosphoric acid, effective use of these dyes is not possible. It has been suggested that some dispersion of the two dyes takes place with concentrated sulphuric or nitric acid which are used to lower the pH. Staining of the nuclei is also possible with an aqueous solution of celestin blue B at pH 3.0 but the same is not possible with gallocyanine at pH 2.8. The absorption spectra of nuclei stained with an aqueous solution of celestin blue B at pH 1.5 and 3.0 are fairly identical, the peak of maximum absorption being at 620 nm. Those of nuclei stained with an aqueous solution of gallocyanine reveal irregular peaks. Possible implications of these findings have been discussed.