Dimethyl sulfoxide-lead tetraacetate method for histochemical oxidation of polysaccharides

Oxidation of fixed tissues and unfixed peripheral blood smears by 1% (w/v) lead tetraacetate in dimethyl sulfoxide for 10 to 60 min resulted in facile induction of tissue carbonyls readily demonstrable with Schiff's reagent and by sodium bisulfite addition reaction, followed by toluidine blue staining at controlled pH. Tissue carbonyls represented a broad range of oxidation-labile substrates and included neutral polysaccharides (glycogen). The oxidation procedures were not destructive to tissues and were characterized by technical simplicity and consistent reproducibility, thus affording a substantial improvement over the hitherto used methods of histochemical oxidation by lead tetraacetate.