title: Selected aminoacridines as fluorescent probes in cytochemistry in general and in the detection of cancer cells in particular.
abstract: Since cellular features can be visualized by proper staining of the biologic substrate, the interactions between the biologic dye and the substrate provide the parameters for automated cell recognition. A stock of 295 acridines and 19 derivatives of anthracene were tested as possible new compounds suitable as fluorescent probes in cytochemistry. Special attention was focused on marking fixed and unfixed cancer cells exfoliated from various organs. The results confirmed observations about the strong metachromatic properties of 3-aminoacridines and 9-aminoacridines. 9-amino-4-methyl-acridine showed an exceptionally high fluorescence of basophilic cellular structures. In addition to 4-aminoacridine, many quinacrine analogues, acridines lacking amino groups, 2-aminoacridine and some benzoacridines stained lipid droplets. A great variability in staining viable nuclei was found. 3-aminoacridine was superior as a Schiff's reagent, even in comparison to acriflavine. Not only aminoacridines but also pyrazol-anthracenes showed valuable properties as fluorochromes. Some further compounds (for instance, 9-aminoacridines) were accumulated in cytoplasmic vacuoles in a manner similar to that of the acridine orange. It is hoped that some of these compounds will prove useful in marking cancer cells.
mesh_terms: D000609:Aminoacridines; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000473:pathology; D003593:Cytoplasm / Q000473:pathology; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D006651:Histocytochemistry; D006801:Humans; D050356:Lipid Metabolism; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000378:metabolism; D013194:Staining and Labeling; D014617:Vacuoles / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D000609:Aminoacridines; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes