G. Guidry, A method for counterstaining tissues in conjunction with the glyoxylic acid condensation reaction for detection of biogenic amines, J HIST CYTO, 47(2), 1999, pp. 261-264
A method is described for counterstaining tissue for use with the glyoxylic
acid reaction for visual detection of biogenic amines. Counterstaining is
achieved by addition of the fluorescent dye malachite green to the sucrose-
phosphate-glyoxylic acid (SPG) solution used for processing of cryostat sec
tions of unfixed tissues. When bound to tissues, the dye provides red-orang
e fluorescence of background tissue, which contrasts well with the green to
yellow fluorescence induced by the glyoxylic acid reaction product formed
with biogenic amines. The counterstaining technique is demonstrated in a nu
mber of catecholamine-containing peripheral tissues and is compared to sect
ions that were processed without counterstaining.