Quantitative cytophotometric analysis of nuclear DNA concentrations by use of cresyl violet acetate versus basic fuchsin

Abstract

Cresyl violet, a basic, oxazine dye, was used in conjunction with the Feulgen reaction to study its staining properties and possible stoichiometric properties in comparison to basic fuchsin, which is a stoichiometric stain. The two-wavelength method of microspectrophotometry was employed to measure nuclear DNA concentrations in liver tissue, sperm, plasmodium, and myxamoeba cells.

It was determined that cresyl violet is specific and stoichiometric for nuclear DNA and complexes with hydrolytic formed aldehyde groups on the DNA molecule. Furthermore, it was also demonstrated that the use of cresyl violet acetate can readily be used to study subtle nuclear DNA changes which occur during the cell cycle.