Use of an aqueous solution of cresyl violet in the staining of DNA following Feulgen procedure

Dutt, M. K.

The use of an aqueous solution of cresyl violet for staining acid hydrolyzed DNA of mammalian tissue sections is reported. Optimum staining of nuclei depends upon the pH of the dye solution which is 6. Absorption data of stained nuclei indicate that the peak of maximum absorption is at 570 nm, whereas the peak of maximum absorption of an aqueous solution of the dye is at 590 nm. The possible mode of binding between DNA-aldehyde groups with dye molecules is suggested.