Standardization of the Feulgen reaction for absorption DNA image cytometry: a review

The present paper gives a review of the current potentials and problems of a standardized Feulgen reaction for absorption DNA image cytometry. The cytochemical basis of the Feulgen reaction is described in the first part of this review. Subsequently, several preparatory factors which influence the performance of the Feulgen reaction, such as fixation, acid hydrolysis, composition of the Feulgen reagent and, in histology, embedding, are discussed in more detail. Some user-oriented recommendations for a standard Feulgen technique are given.