An improved histochemical technique for differentiating adrenaline- and noradrenaline-containing cells.
BACKGROUND
Sevki's histochemical technique allows specific staining of catecholamine-containing cells, yet discrimination between adrenaline-(ADR-) cells and noradrenaline-(NOR-) cells is unreliable, being based on hue differences.


METHODS
In this work, histochemical differentiation of ADR- and NOR-cells in rat adrenal medulla was carried out by introducing two modifications to Sevki's technique: 1) employment of aged Giemsa solution, and 2) addition of an alkaline differentiating step.


RESULTS
With these changes, ADR-cells stained brown, whereas NOR-cells were deep-green, resulting in a clear-cut differentiation.


CONCLUSIONS
The modified technique permits to differentiate ADR- from NOR-cells in the adrenal medulla using only a bright field microscope without any sophisticated equipment. The present procedure is inexpensive and easy to carry out.
Ortíz-Butron
R
R
Departamento de Fisiología, Escuela Nacional de Ciencias Biológícas, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, México, D.F.
Piñón-López
M J
MJ
Juárez-Santiago
L
L
Racotta
R
R
D000313:Adrenal Medulla / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000166:cytology; D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000502:physiology; D004837:Epinephrine / Q000032:analysis*; D006651:Histocytochemistry; D008297:Male; D009638:Norepinephrine / Q000032:analysis*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar
D009638:Norepinephrine; D004837:Epinephrine