Cytochemical characterization of the modified Guard procedure a regressive staining method for demonstrating chromosomal basic proteins

Summary

A number of acidic dyes, including various fluorochromes, were substituted for biebrich scarlet in the modified Guard (1959) procedure, a regressive staining method which appears to demonstrate basic chromosomal proteins. These substitutions were made to test the possibility that dyes other than biebrich scarlet might provide advantages in sensitivity and/or contrast, or that more control could be exerted over the “differentiation” step in which solutions of phosphotungstic and phosphomolybdic acids (polyacids) are used.

Of the dyes tested in this investigation, six were found to be especially suitable: procion brilliant blue, procion yellow, geranine G, brilliant sulfoflavine, eosin Y, and eosin B. While procion brilliant blue could be used as an absorption dye only, the other dyes were used more profitably as fluorochromes. The various dyes displayed considerable variability in the ease with which they could be displayed from substrates with polyacid solutions during the differentiation step. Procion brilliant blue, procion yellow, and geranine G were displaced gradually and thus resembled biebrich scarlet. In contrast, eosin B, eosin Y, and brilliant sulfoflavine were displaced more easily from all but the most highly condensed chromatin in substrates. Brilliant sulfoflavine yielded exceptionally bright and nearly selective fluorescence of consensed chromosomes in division, “X” chromosomes of grasshopper spermatocytes, and sperm heads.

Weak, but selective fluorescence was observed when monazo sulfonated dyes, including ponta chrome violet SW, eriochrome black, diamond red, and ponta chrome blue black, were substituted in the modified Guard procedure. Similar results were obtained with solochrome cyanin R. As expected, these dyes seemed to function as weakly acidic dyes.