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Critical analysis of the use of the acrolein-Schiff method as a possible DNA reaction

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Summary

Histophotometric examination was carried out on nuclei of lymphocytes in human peripheral blood, which were subjected to various tests in order to assess the acrolein-Schiff method as a possible DNA specific reaction, in comparison with the traditional Feulgen reaction. Special attention was paid to the degree of difference between responses attributable to a direct Schiff reaction obtained in the fraction of nuclear proteins after treatment with acrolein. From the results obtained it appears that an acrolein-Schiff reaction, following extraction of proteins, may be considered a qualitative reaction for DNA. Our findings also show that there is no relationship between the degree of response to the acrolein-Schiff reaction and that to the Feulgen reaction, which is to be expected in view of the different mechanisms of the two reactions.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Histology and Embryology of the University of Pavia, Italy

    Annunzia Fraschini & Vittorio Marinozzi

  2. Center for Studies in Histochemistry of the National Research Council at the University of Pavia, Italy

    Annunzia Fraschini & Vittorio Marinozzi

  3. Institute of Morbid Anatomy of the University of Rome, Italy

    Annunzia Fraschini & Vittorio Marinozzi

Authors
  1. Annunzia Fraschini
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  2. Vittorio Marinozzi
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Fraschini, A., Marinozzi, V. Critical analysis of the use of the acrolein-Schiff method as a possible DNA reaction. Histochemistry 50, 197–206 (1977). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00491067

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00491067

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