Summary
The significance of green metachromasia to Toluidine blue O, exhibited by vitelline cells of monogeneans and epicuticle of millipedes is elucidated, as due to phenolacid mucopolysaccharide complex, as synthetic phenols or synthetic phenol in combination with heparin or hyaluronic acid gave likewise a green colour to Toluidine blue. The green colour is indicative of a metachromatic reaction is suggested, by its being eliminated or suppressed on treatment with metallic cations or detergent like Sodium oleate, as in other metachromatic reactions. A probable involvement of -OH groups in phenol-acid mucopolysaccharide complex is suggested.
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We thank Prof. G. Krishnan, Director, Department of Zoology, University of Madras for the many courtesies extended to us. Thanks are due to Dr. P. Shanmugam and Dr. S. M. Bose for the enlightening discussions and to Dr. (Miss) Lakshmi Chettur and Dr. D. Subramaniam for their help.
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Ramalingam, K., Ravindranath, M.H. Histochemical significance of green metachromasia to Toluidine blue. Histochemie 24, 322–327 (1970). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00278217
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00278217