Cj. Jeon et Rh. Masland, SELECTIVE ACCUMULATION OF DIAMIDINO YELLOW AND CHROMOMYCIN-A3 BY RETINAL GLIAL-CELLS, The Journal of histochemistry and cytochemistry, 41(11), 1993, pp. 1651-1658
We applied the fluorescent DNA stains diamidino yellow (DY) and chromo
mycin A3 to rat and rabbit retinas in vivo and in vitro. They accumula
ted in the nuclei of a subpopulation of cells of the inner nuclear lay
er. The number and distribution of the fluorochrome-accumulating cells
were similar to those of the Muller glia, and double-labeling experim
ents showed that the cells accumulating DY or chromomycin A3 contained
oriented filaments of vimentin. The fluorochromes also accumulated in
the sparse astrocytes and oligodendrocytes located among the myelinat
ed fibers of the rabbit central retina. Specific accumulation in retin
al glia occurred only when the fluorochromes were applied to living re
tinas. If the plasma membranes were disrupted by fixation or exposure
to detergent, most retinal cells were stained. This indicates that the
locus of specificity is the entry of the molecules into the cells. Wh
en applied to living retinas, other DNA stains selectively accumulate
in subclasses of retinal neurons. Why DNA-binding molecules should sel
ectively cross the membranes of either retinal neurons or retinal glia
remains an unsolved problem.