title: Alcian yellow as a fluorescent dye.
abstract: Fluorescence characteristics of the cationic dye Alcian yellow are described. Under ultraviolet excitation, the chromatin and basophilic cytoplasm from cell smears show a blue-white emission, which depends on the presence of nucleic acids. Glycosaminoglycans-containing structures (mast cell granules, cartilage matrix) appear brightly fluorescent. The excitation at 320 less than or equal to lambda less than or equal to 340 nm is the most suitable, and the emission wavelength shows dependence on the dye concentration.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Biologia, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Stockert
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Del Castillo
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Armas-Portela
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001491:Basophils / Q000166:cytology; D002025:Bufonidae; D002286:Carcinoma, Ehrlich Tumor / Q000473:pathology*; D002356:Cartilage / Q000166:cytology; D002645:Chickens; D004396:Coloring Agents; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D006025:Glycosaminoglycans / Q000032:analysis*; D006736:Horses; D008407:Mast Cells / Q000166:cytology; D051379:Mice; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence; D015394:Molecular Structure; D051381:Rats; D013050:Spectrometry, Fluorescence; D013154:Spleen / Q000166:cytology*; D045725:Tetrapyrroles
chemical_list: D004396:Coloring Agents; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D006025:Glycosaminoglycans; D045725:Tetrapyrroles; C030318:Alcian Yellow