Intermediate electron-acceptors in quantitative cytochemistry. Comparison of phenazine methosulphate and Meldola Blue

The efficacy of Meldola Blue (MB), a new intermediate electron-acceptor, has been compared with that of phenazine methosulphate (PMS) in the assay of oxidoreductase activity in cryostat sections; various tetrazolium salts have been used as the final electron-acceptors. Three enzymes: succinate dehydrogenase, glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase and lactate dehydrogenase were investigated, the activity in sections being quantitated by scanning and integrating microdensitometry. Phenazine methosulphate was superior to Meldola Blue in transferring reducing equivalents from reduced coenzyme to all the tetrazolium salts examined.