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Staining Isolated Proteins and Polysaccharides on Slides; Phosphotungstic Acid-Hematoxylin versus the Rosindole Reaction

1968; Taylor & Francis; Volume: 43; Issue: 5 Linguagem: Inglês

10.3109/10520296809115083

0038-9153

Faye Sweat, Holde Puchtler, Mary S. Terry,

Molecular Biology Techniques and Applications

Investigations of hyaline deposits in arteriosclerotic lesions disclosed striking differences in the amount of fibrin demonstrated by these two stains. To test their specificity, model slides carrying dried 10% solutions or suspensions of polysaccharides, fractions of plasma and other proteins were used. Preparations stained with phosphotungstic acid-hema-toxylin (PTAH) were fixed in Zenker-formol, in formaldehyde vapor, and in Carnoy's (6:3:1) solution; those stained by the rosindole reaction, in Carnoy's only. No relation could be found between the chemical nature of the substances tested and their coloration by PTAH; furthermore, the staining reactions were strongly affected by the nature of the fixation. In contrast, only plasma proteins, elastase and gliadin yielded an intense rosindole reaction, thus showing that it is much more reliable for the demonstration of plasma proteins, including fibrin, than is PTAH. Apparently, PTAH gives information on molecular structure rather than on chemical composition.