TOLUIDINE BLUE FOR MICROSCOPY

Uses

Toluidine Blue is suitable for use in the following applications:

1. to demonstrate amyloid; DNA in plant material, mast cells, Nissl substance, nuclei, and sulfatides
2. in metachromatic staining of sulfated mucins and related materials
3. as staining agent to identify the development and accumulation of the cartilage matrix, proteoglycans for isolation and culture of mesenchymal stem cells from mouse compact bone.
4. staining of mucins in water-miscible resins and of nucleic acids in epoxy resins(1)

Preparation

Toluidine Blue O 47[6586-04-5] is prepared from N,N-dimethyl-p-phenylenediamine and o-toluidine and is used as a stain for microscopy.

Biological Activity

Toluidine Blue is a basic thiazine metachromatic dye, which is used for selectively staining acidic tissue components such as carboxylates, sulfates, and phosphate radicals.It is found to have an affinity for nucleic acids and therefore binds to the nuclear material of tissues with a high DNA and RNA content.