title: Pontamine sky blue: a counterstain for background autofluorescence in fluorescence and immunofluorescence histochemistry.
abstract: The stain pontamine sky blue (PSB) has been shown to reduce background autofluorescence in catecholamine fluorescence and immunofluorescence histochemical preparations. Using PSB as a counterstain on whole-mount stretch preparations of human mesenteric blood vessels, a medium dense noradrenergic nerve plexus is clearly revealed, which previously had been only partially visible because of background autofluorescence. Image analysis of nerve densities in whole-mount stretch preparations of guinea-pig arteries containing noradrenergic, substance P-, and vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP)-positive nerve plexuses shows that PSB staining does not alter the specific neuronal fluorescence and that it improves image definition.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Cowen
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Haven
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Burnstock
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001391:Azo Compounds; D002339:Carotid Arteries / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D005453:Fluorescence; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D006651:Histocytochemistry; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008638:Mesenteric Arteries / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D008642:Mesenteric Veins / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D013194:Staining and Labeling; D014343:Trypan Blue
chemical_list: D001391:Azo Compounds; C009000:pontamine sky blue; D014343:Trypan Blue