Summary
A schedule for staining partially hydrated PAS-positive structures using non-aqueous solutions has been devised. Tissues are dewaxed, taken down to 70% alcohol, oxidised for 10 min in a 1% w/v alcoholic solution of periodic acid, treated with an alcoholic solution of phosphotungstic acid-Schiff reagent complex (PTA-Schiff reagent) for 25 min, washed in alcohol, cleared in xylene and mounted in a synthetic medium. The PTA-Schiff reagent complex prepared from de Tomasi Schiff reagent by precipitation with PTA may be stored in the deep freeze for many months and dissolved freshly in alcohol for use. The PTA-Schiff reagent sued as above allows staining of highly water soluble materials such as dextran. From blocking and digestion studies the mode of action seems similar to de Tomasi Schiff reagent. The partial hydration of the tissues prior to reaction was found to be essential for effective staining.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Kasten, F.H.: Schiff-type reagents in cytochemistry. I. Theoretical and practical considerations. Histochemie 1, 466–509 (1959)
Kasten, F.H.: The chemistry of Schiff's reagent. Int. Rev. Cytol. 10, 1–100 (G.H. Bourne and J.F. Danielli, ed.). New York: Academic Press 1960
Mowry, R.W., Longley, J.B., Millican, R.C.: Histochemical demonstration of intravenously injected dextran in kidney and liver of the mouse. J. Lab. clin. Med. 39, 211–217 (1952)
Pearse, A.G.E.: Histochemistry theoretical and applied, 3rd ed., Vol. 1. London: J. & A. Churchill Ltd. 1968
Schibsted, H.: New test for fat aldehydes resulting from oxidation of fats and oils. Ind. Eng. Chem. Anal. Ed. 4, 204–208 (1932)
Scott, J.E.: PTA ‘Schiff reactive’ but not a glycol reagent. J. Histochem. Cytochem. 21, 1084 (1973)
Staple, P.H.: The effect of boric acid on the reaction of lead tetra acetate with polysaccharides in films and tissue sections. J. Histochem. Cytochem. 5, 472–488 (1957)
Tucker, F.L., Bartholomew, J.W.: Variations in the Gram staining; results caused by air moisture. Stain Technol. 37, 157–160 (1962)
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Bedi, K.S., Horobin, R.W. An alcohol-soluble Schiff's reagent: A histochemical application of the complex between Schiff's reagent and phosphotungstic acid. Histochemistry 48, 153–159 (1976). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00494553
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00494553