title: A new method for the detection of viable cells in tissue sections using 3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT): an application in the assessment of tissue damage by surgical instruments.
abstract: This report describes a new method using 3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) to visualize live viable tissue at the microscopic level. The visualization of the MTT stained tissue provides a metabolic assessment of tissue damage, and can be utilized as an extension of conventional hematoxylin-eosin (H & E) staining. In this report, several tissues were studied with MTT and H & E staining after incisions had been made by a variety of surgical dissecting instruments. A marked improvement in the detection of tissue damage was seen using MTT, regardless of how the damage was caused, i.e., physical, heat, or photon energy. In addition, a distinct zone of damage not noted on conventionally prepared and stained tissues is readily apparent. Thus MTT staining will have utility in both clinical and research studies, concerned with assessing the viability of tissues.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Northwestern University/VA Lakeside Medical Center, Chicago, Illinois.
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Radosevich
authors.forename: G K
authors.initials: GK
authors.lastname: Haines
authors.forename: K M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Elseth
authors.forename: G E
authors.initials: GE
authors.lastname: Shambaugh
authors.forename: V K
authors.initials: VK
authors.lastname: Maker
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002470:Cell Survival; D004396:Coloring Agents; D004564:Electrocoagulation; D006651:Histocytochemistry; D053685:Laser Therapy; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D013194:Staining and Labeling; D013525:Surgical Instruments; D013778:Tetrazolium Salts; D013844:Thiazoles
chemical_list: D004396:Coloring Agents; D013778:Tetrazolium Salts; D013844:Thiazoles; C022616:thiazolyl blue