Staining of DNA-phosphate groups with a mixture of azure A and acridine yellow.

This paper deals with staining of DNA-phosphate groups with a mixture of an equal parts of aqueous solution of azure A and acridine yellow in a 1:1 proportion and also embodies a study of the absorption properties of the stained nuclei. It also embodies results of sequential staining of nuclei stained first with azure A followed by staining with acridine yellow and vice versa, after extraction of RNA with cold phosphoric acid. The results indicate that the absorption peaks of nuclei differ from those of nuclei stained for DNA-aldehyde molecules with azure A-SO2 or acridine yellow-SO2. The in vitro absorption characteristics of an aqueous solution of azure A and those of an aqueous solution of acridine yellow are also presented herein. The conclusion obtained from this study is that all the phosphate groups of DNA do not take part in the staining process when staining is carried out with azure A or acridine yellow alone after after RNA has been extracted. This is because the nuclei stained with these dyes sequentially show the presence of acridine yellow-DNA and azure A-DNA complex.     

Demonstration of DNA with an extra-sensitive Schiff's reagent and a Schiff-type dye-reagent, toluidine blue O-SO2

This paper describes a method for the preparation of Schiff's reagent as well as a Schiff-type dye-reagent, toluidine blue O-SO2 for use in Feulgen procedure. The method involves replacement of the usual N HCl by N H2SO4 and the usual amount of potassium metabisulphite. Following this method of preparation, an extra-sensitive Schiff's reagent is obtained which requires only 4-5 min for optimum nuclear colouration even when staining is performed at 5 degrees C. This Schiff's reagent produces perfect Feulgen staining up to 6 months after preparation. Toluidine blue O-SO2, prepared with N H2SO4 and potassium metabisulphite, also produces perfect Feulgen type staining of the DNA-aldehyde molecules of acid-hydrolysed mammalian tissue sections. Toluidine blue O-SO2 when shaken with activated charcoal and filtered produces very satisfactory result. The shell-life of this dye-reagent is just a week. The suitability of the use of N H2SO4 for the preparation of Schiff's reagent as well as a Schiff-type dye-reagent, toluidine blue O-SO2, has been discussed.     

Staining plastic sections

Many of the difficulties of staining plastic embedded tissues for light and electron microscopy derive from physical exclusion of hydrophilic staining reagents by hydrophobic embedding media. Structures which stain most intensely with hydrophilic reagents usually contain less hydrophobic plastic than do non-staining structures. Such incomplete infiltration is apparently caused by exclusion of viscous, hydrophobic monomers by physically dense and/or well hydrated tissue elements. In keeping with this, generalized staining of tissues embedded in hydrophobic media does occur when hydrophobic reagents are used. Staining of plastic-free structures with single hydrophilic reagents or with sequences of such reagents, is, however, largely rate-controlled. The surprising similarity of hydrophilic and hydrophobic plastic embedding media is discussed. Limits of this simple model are explored, with a consideration of the roles of fixative and of monomer-tissue reactions.     

Feulgen type staining with Hoffmann's violet-SO2 under exposure to UV rays.

The paper contains an account of the use of Hoffmann's violet-SO2 under exposure to UV rays during staining acid-hydrolysed DNA of mammalian tissue nuclei. Preparations stained with Hoffmann's violet-SO2 without exposure to UV rays reveal extremely pale violet nuclei but when stained under the influence of UV rays show a considerably faster reaction resulting in a very much deeper staining of the nuclei. Sections after staining with this dye-reagent require n-butanol as differentiating reagent. Possible interpretation for the increase in staining ability of this dye-reagent under exposure to UV rays has been elucidated and the reason for considering the reaction as Feulgen type has been discussed.     

A polychrome stain for conventionally fixed paraffin-embedded woody plant tissues

A method for the differential staining of conventionally fixed paraffin-embedded woody plant tissue is described. A five-component stain combination is used with Bismarck Brown, included to avoid the stain variability, precipitation, and overstaining problems often encountered when using safranin.     

Rotary shadowing with platinum-carbon in biological electron microscopy: A review of methods and applications

Rotary shadowing when combined with such specimen preparation techniques as quick freezing and deep etching, critical point drying, and glycerol spraying is a highly versatile method of visualizing cell and macromolecular ultrastructure. This review outlines the procedures commonly used to prepare specimens for rotary shadowing and evaluates the relative merits of rotary shadowing when compared to unidirectional shadowing and negative staining.     

Staining sections of water-miscible resins 2. Effects of staining-reagent lipophilicity on the staining of glycol-methacrylate-embedded tissues

Glycol methacrylate (GMA) sections of animal tissues were stained with a group of twenty-seven reagents of very varied chemical characteristics. The artefactual background staining of the resin was found to be dependent on the hydrophilic/lipophilic character of the staining reagent, as estimated from the logarithm of its octanol-water partition coefficient (log P). Intense background staining occurred with lipophilic stains, whose log P>2. In keeping with this, use of GMA semi-permeable membranes for enzyme histochemistry failed to give staining when using a lipophilic substrate, probably because the substrate was trapped in the membrane. An analysis of other routine histochemical stains—in terms of the probable occurrence of high resin background staining and low tissue sensitivity—is made. A numerical guide is provided to help avoid artefacts resulting from hydrophobic and size effects. Note: small, hydrophilic reagents (log P <0; molecular weight < 550 Da) are least likely to show either type of artefact. Conversely, reagents which are lipophilic, or/and of intermediate size (log P > 2; 550 < ionic weight < 1000 Da), give strong background staining.     

Cytochemical specificity of acridine red towards RNA and depolymerised DNA.

The paper contains an account of the use of the basic dye, acridine red, of the xanthene group, for staining RNA and depolymerised DNA. The in situ absorption curve of nuclei stained with acridine red indicates a peak of maximum absorption at 560 nm, whereas in vitro absorption characteristics of an aqueous solution of the dye indicate the peak at 550nm. The possibility of using acridine red as a substitute for pyronin, when staining is required for RNA only or in methyl green-acridine red sequence for localising DNA and RNA has been discussed.     

Intracellular distribution of actin in cells of the orgen of Corti: A structural basis for cell shape and motility

Immunofluorescence staining and phalloidin labeling have provided localization of actin in the sensory and supporting cells of the inner ear at the light microscopic level. However, with electron microscopy, neither actin nor actin filaments have been found in the outer hair cell body. This paper describes various techniques utilized to preserve and identify cytoplasmic actin at the ultrastructural level. Post-embedding staining of Lowicryl K4M sections, pre-embedding staining of permeabilized cells of the organ of Corti, pre-embedding staining of vibratome sections, and pre-embedding staining of permeabilized dissociated cells documented the presence of actin, but each of these techniques was best suited to localize actin in specific parts of the cell. Cytoplasmic actin was labeled when isolated cells were lightly fixed and membranes were permeabilized with detergent—conditions under which the cell ultrastructure was compromised. Under conditions of optimal fixation, cytoplasmic filaments embedded in the dense granular matrix of the hair cell cytoplasm were observed.     

A method for abolishing the nonspecific binding artifacts produced by the peroxidase-antiperoxidase complex (PAP) in immunostained mucous epithelia

The presence of nonspecific staining artifacts is a potential problem in ultrastructural immunocytochemistry. In the course of staining for lysozyme in the human and rabbit endocervix, the peroxidase-antiperoxidase complex (PAP) was found to bind to mucous granules in a selective and nonspecific manner. Sections etched in 10% aqueous H₂O₂, incubated for 5 minutes in 1:50 PAP in Tris-buffered saline (TBS) and subsequently treated with 3, 3′-diaminobenzidine-H₂O₂, revealed a staining precipitate within the matrix of mucous granules. The same selective and nonspecific staining could also be visualized when horseradish peroxidase (1 mg/ml) was substituted for PAP in the immunocytochemical sequence. Thus, this staining method made the reliable demonstration of the desired antigen difficult. The affinity of PAP for mucous granules can be completely eliminated by subjecting sections, previously etched in H₂O₂ to expose the antigenic sites, to a 3-minute incubation in immunoglobulin (1:10 human IgA, 1:5 human IgG, or 1:5 antihuman IgG) immediately prior to using PAP in the standard immunocytochemical staining sequence. The use of this modification to Sternberger's unlabeled antibody-enzyme method is recommended because it allows for the elimination of all nonspecific staining artifacts without interfering with specific localization by the primary antibody. The mechanism that causes nonspecific binding of peroxidase to mucous granule constituents is unclear, although carbohydrate binding may play a role in the interaction between mucous granules and peroxidase.     

Detection of endolithic spatial distribution in marble stone

The penetration of endolithic microorganisms, which develop to depths of several millimetres or even centimetres into the stone, and the diffusion of their extracellular substances speeds up the stone deterioration process. The aim of this study was to investigate, using a confocal laser scanning microscopy with a double‐staining, a marble rock sample by observing the endolithic spatial distribution and quantifying the volume they occupied within the stone, in order to understand the real impact of these microorganisms on the conservation of stone monuments. Often the only factors taken into account by biodeterioration studies regarding endolithic microorganisms, are spread and depth of penetration. Despite the knowledge of three‐dimensional spatial distribution and quantification of volume, it is indispensable to understand the real damage caused by endolithic microorganisms to stone monuments. In this work, we analyze a marble rock sample using a confocal laser scanning microscopy stained with propidium iodide and Concavalin‐A conjugate with the fluorophore Alexa Fluor 488, comparing these results with other techniques (SEM microscope, microphotographs of polished cross‐sections and thin‐section, PAS staining methods), An image analysis approach has also been applied. The use of confocal laser scanning microscopy with double staining shows clear evidence of the presence of endolithic microorganisms (cyanobacteria and fungi) as well as the extracellular polymeric substance matrix in a three‐dimensional architecture as part of the rock sample, this technique, therefore, seems very useful when applied to restoration interventions on stone monuments when endolithic growth is suspected.     

Rapid and reliable method for diagnostic electron microscopy of faeces

Four methods are described for examining viruses in faeces by electron microscopy using negative staining. Faeces samples from a total of 180 patients with diarrhoea illnesses were processed for electron microscopy by the direct staining technique, pseudoreplica technique, microsolute concentration technique and by ultracentrifugation. Virus particles (including rotaviruses and adenoviruses) were found in fifty-five (31%) samples when the results of all methods were combined. Bacteriophages were found in thirty of the samples which were read virus negative. Herpesviruses were also found in the faecal samples of two patients with diarrhoea illness. Parvovirus-like particles were identified in one sample which was rotavirus and adeno-virus positive. Calicivirus-like particles were found in a sample which was adenovirus positive. With the direct staining technique thirty-six (20%) samples contain virus particles; with micro-solute concentration technique forty-eight (27%) samples contain virus particles and with ultracentrifugation thirty-eight (21%) contain virus particles. It is believed the microsolute concentration technique is rapid and more reliable than the pseudoreplica technique and ultracentrifugation method, and is a more preferable method for the diagnosis of faecal sample by electron microscopy.     

Microwaves and tea: new tools to process plant tissue for transmission electron microscopy

Optimizing sample processing, reducing the duration of the preparation of specimen, and adjusting procedures to adhere to new health and safety regulations, are the current challenges of plant electron microscopists. To address these issues, plant processing protocols for TEM, combining the use of polyphenolic compounds as substitute for uranyl acetate with microwave technology are being developed. In the present work, we optimized microwave-assisted processing of different types of plant tissue for ultrastuctural and immunocytochemical studies. We also explored Oolong tea extract as alternative for uranyl acetate for the staining of plant samples. We obtained excellent preservation of cell ultrastructure when samples were embedded in epoxy resin, and of cell antigenicity, when embedded in LR-White resin. Furthermore, Oolong tea extract successfully replaced uranyl acetate as a counterstain on ultrathin sections, and for in block staining. These novel protocols reduce the time spent at the bench, and improve safety conditions for the investigator. The preservation of the cell components when following these approaches is of high quality. Altogether, they offer significant simplification of the procedures required for electron microscopy of plant ultrastructure.     

Effects of microwave irradiation and chemical fixation on the localization of perisinusoidal cells in rat liver by gold impregnation

Modified gold impregnation is one of the methods that are used in light microscopical demonstration of hepatic perisinusoidal cells. This method has some disadvantages, such as restriction of fixation time to 16 h, which allows limited time for processing the tissues, especially when dealing with a large amount of material, and a long impregnation time (16–24 h). We investigated the effect of prolonged fixation on the staining of sections, to shorten the time needed for gold impregnation by using microwave irradiation. Liver specimens were fixed in Baker's calcium–formalin for different periods of time. After fixation, frozen sections were impregnated in gold chloride solution either at room temperature or in a microwave oven. The staining quality of the sections which had been impregnated in the microwave oven for a much shorter time were equal to or even superior to the ones impregnated at room temperature. Prolonging the fixation time up to 7 days did not affect the staining results by microwave irradiation, whereas satisfactory results were not obtained from sections stained at room temperature and fixed for more than 3 days. We conclude that microwave irradiation can be used to shorten the impregnation time in gold chloride solution and the duration of fixation can be prolonged up to 3 days in the original method and up to 7 days when microwave irradiation is used during impregnation.     

A tridimensional view of the organization of actin filaments in the central nervous system by use of fluorescent photooxidation

Cellular and subcellular organization and distribution of actin filaments have been studied with various techniques. The use of fluorescence photo-oxidation combined with phalloidin conjugates with eosin has allowed the examination of the precise cellular and subcellular location of F-actin. Correlative fluorescence light microscopy and transmission electron microscopy studies of F-actin distribution are facilitated with this method for morphological and physiological studies. Because phalloidin-eosin is smaller than other markers, this method allows the analysis of the three-dimensional location of F-actin with high-resolution light microscopy, three-d serial sections reconstructions, and electron tomography. The combination of selective staining and three-dimensional reconstructions provide a valuable tool for revealing aspects of the synaptic morphology that are not available when conventional electron microscopy is used. By applying this selective staining technique and three-dimensional imaging, we uncovered the structural organization of actin in the postsynaptic densities in physiological and pathological conditions.     

Three-dimensional analysis of neuronal geometry using HVEM

There is a need for an electron microscopic method for visualization of selectively stained neurons and neuronal processes with higher resolution than can be obtained with the light microscope, but using thick sections that allow visualization of the three-dimensional structure of the neuron. Such a method is required for measurement of the geometry of neurons, and this information is needed to test theoretical predictions on the way in which electrical signals of synaptic origin are processed by the cells. The high voltage electron microscope (HVEM) is well suited to this application, because of its high resolution and ability to form images of thick sections. Use of this instrument requires development of selective stains that can produce diffuse cytoplasmic staining of specific cells or cell populations on the basis of their functional properties. Several such methods currently being employed for light microscopic work can be used directly in the high voltage electron microscope or can be made useful by relatively minor alterations. These include intracellular staining with horseradish peroxidase, axonal tracing with Phaseolus vulgaris leukoagglutinin (PHA-L), and immunocytochemical staining for specific cell markers known to stain the cytoplasm of certain cell populations. Cells stained intracellularly by microinjection of horseradish peroxidase during physiological recording experiments may be stained in thick (ca. 50 μm) sections cut on a vibratome or similar instrument and stained in the standard way, using methods designed for light microscopy. The sections are then postfixed in osmium tetroxide and embedded in epoxy plastic. Sections cut from these blocks at thicknesses of from 1 to 5 μm using a dry glass knife may be examined directly in the HVEM with no further staining. This produces a very clear image of the cell on a relatively unstained background. This method provides more than adequate resolution of the boundary of the neuron, allowing measurement of neuronal processes to better than 10-nm precision. Similar results are obtained when the same method is applied to axonal tracing using PHA-L. In this case, the exogenously applied marker is used to label a small population of nearby neurons and to trace their connections with other cells at a distance. The lectin is detected by immunocytochemistry, but the selective contrast of the image is adjustable because the concentration of antigen in the cell is largely controlled by the experimenter. The lectin is distributed diffusely in the cytoplasm in a pattern identical to that of intracellular staining, so like intracellular staining, it reveals the overall shape of the cell. Immunocytochemical labelling using endogenous antigens known to be distributed in the cytoplasm of specific neurons produced inadequate control of selective contrast when prepared in this manner. Instead, 1–10μm sections cut from blocks of nervous tissue were embedded in polyethylene glycol, stained using a combedded in polyethylene glycol, stained using a combination of immunocytochemistry and histochemical intensification methods, and embedded in plastic on the grid. This method, which is also suited for staining with poorly penetrating markers such as colloidal gold, may also prove useful in a variety of other situations requiring the intensification of selective contrast.     

Triton X-100 pretreatment of LR-white thin sections improves immunofluorescence specificity and intensity

The staining of intracellular antigenic sites in postembedded samples is a challenging problem. Deterioration of antigenicity and limited antibody accessibility to the antigen are commonly encountered on account of processing steps. In this study preservation of the antigen was achieved by fixing the tissues with mild fixatives, performing partial dehydration, and embedding in a low crosslinked hydrophilic acrylic resin, LR-White. Permeabilization of cell membranes with Triton X-100 is well documented but can affect some antigen conformations. We tested the effect of Triton X-100 on the ED1 antigen present in the lysosomal membrane of the macrophage in cell culture. The ED1 antigen in the lysosome was resistant to extraction by Triton X-100. Interestingly pretreating the LR-White sections of macrophage pellets with Triton X-100 improved the staining intensity of ED1. The most intense and clear specific fluorescent staining was observed when sections were pretreated with 0.2% Triton X-100 for 2 min. Longer exposure of sections to 0.2% Triton or 2 min exposure to 2% Triton lead to reduced ED1 labeling. SEM observations indicated that the detergent extracted a component from the cells and not the resin and was determined to be lipid. This novel technique could be applied in many research areas where postembedding fluorescent immunolabeling with higher labeling intensity is desired.     

Cytochemical mechanisms of chromatin fluorescence and staining reactions by thionin solutions

After staining with thionin at low concentration (less than 10(-5) M), the masses of condensed chromatin in chicken erythrocyte nuclei show a red fluorescence under green excitation, which is abolished when they become stained by using concentrations higher than 10(-4) M. The possibility that intercalative binding of a hydrophobic component from the dye solution into DNA accounts for this fluorescence reaction in chromatin is briefly discussed.     

Oolong tea extract as a substitute for uranyl acetate in staining of ultrathin sections

In conventional transmission electron microscopy, uranyl acetate staining is used to enhance the cellular components. However, uranyl acetate is considered a radioactive material that is very toxic if ingested or inhaled and subject to restrictions in many countries. In an attempt to introduce a substitute for uranyl acetate, we evaluated oolong tea extract (OTE) for staining of ultrathin sections. Tissue sections from normal rat liver representing an ideal model organ were processed according to a routine electron microscopic fixation and embedding procedure. Serial ultrathin sections were cut and processed with either routine double electron staining or 0.2% OTE staining for 30–40 min at room temperature followed by lead citrate staining (OTE staining method). Transmission electron microscopy observations revealed that all sub‐cellular structures in hepatocytes were clearly visible with OTE staining and the quality of staining was highly compatible with those of routine double staining methods. It is suggested that OTE could be used as a non‐radioactive and hazard‐free substitute for uranyl acetate in transmission electron microscopy staining.     

Cautionary observations on preparing and interpreting brain images using molecular biology-based staining techniques

Though molecular biology-based visualization techniques such as antibody staining, in situ hybridization, and induction of reporter gene expression have become routine procedures for analyzing the structures of the brain, precautions to prevent misinterpretation have not always been taken when preparing and interpreting images. For example, sigmoidal development of the chemical processes in staining might exaggerate the specificity of a label. Or, adjustment of exposure for bright fluorescent signals might result in overlooking weak signals. Furthermore, documentation of a staining pattern is affected easily by recognized organized features in the image while other parts interpreted as "disorganized" may be ignored or discounted. Also, a higher intensity of a label per cell can often be confused with a higher percentage of labeled cells among a population. The quality, and hence interpretability, of the three-dimensional reconstruction with confocal microscopy can be affected by the attenuation of fluorescence during the scan, the refraction between the immersion and mounting media, and the choice of the reconstruction algorithm. Additionally, visualization of neurons with the induced expression of reporter genes can suffer because of the low specificity and low ubiquity of the expression drivers. The morphology and even the number of labeled cells can differ considerably depending on the reporters and antibodies used for detection. These aspects might affect the reliability of the experiments that involves induced expression of effector genes to perturb cellular functions. Examples of these potential pitfalls are discussed here using staining of Drosophila brain.