Chemical Properties
dark green to black powder
Uses
Nile blue A is suitable for staining and discriminating between melanins and lipofuscins in paraffin sections of animal tissue, and in a histochemical method for lipids in frozen sections.
Uses
Nile Blue A is used in the Lillie and Fullmer method for staining and discriminating between melanins and lipofuscins in paraffin sections of animal tissue. Nile blue A is also useful for staining fats and phospholipids. Dyes and metabolites.
Uses
Nile Blue A is a stain used for discriminating between melanins and lipofuscins in paraffin sections of animal tissue
General Description
Nile Blue A is aminodiethylaminonaphthophenoxazonium sulfate employed in biology and histology. It is a highly fluorescent, and photostable organic dye used to dye clothing, and is for use in lipid histochemistry.
Biochem/physiol Actions
Nile blue A stains acidic components, such as phospholipids, nucleic and fatty acids by imparting a dark blue color, while neutral lipids, namely triglycerides, are stained pink, or red.
Purification Methods
Crystallise the dye from aqueous AcOH. It has UV: at 630nm (96% aqueous max EtOH) and 635nm (H2O). The betaine has UV: at 513nm (EtOH). [Crossley et al. J Am Chem Soc 74 max 57, 578 1952, Merill & Spencer J Am Chem Soc 70 3683 1948, Beilstein 27 II 457, 27 III/IV 5166.]
