THE MECHANISM OF VITAL STAINING WITH BASIC DYES
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Updated: Jun 19, 2026

Techniques for Processing Eyes Implanted With a Retinal Prosthesis for Localized Histopathological Analysis
Published on: August 2, 2013
1McManes Laboratory of Pathology, School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, and the Marine Biological Laboratory, Woods Hole.
Abstract:
1. Solutions containing NH(4)OH and NaOH, and CO(2) and HCl may be used to produce various combinations of extracellular and intracellular reactions in starfish eggs, Gonionemus, and Nitella cells. 2. Staining by basic dyes is, with a constant intracellular reaction, favored by increased extracellular alkalinity. With a constant extracellular reaction, staining is hindered by increased intracellular alkalinity. 3. These facts are in opposition to the view that staining of cells by basic dyes is chiefly governed by a combination of the dyes with cell proteins. It is more in harmony with the view that the combination is with a substance or substances of acid nature.
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