A Simple Stain for Mitochondria.

Abstract

An end-point method of staining mitochondria is described. The staining reaction involves (1) the combination of Hg (a) with RNA and a constituent of dilute solutions of toluidine blue, and (b) with lipid of the mitochondrion; (2) subsequent treatment of the cell with a solution of ammonium molybdate and potassium ferrocyanide to precipitate the Hg-RNA-dye complex onto the HG-lipid of the mitochondrion. Highest degree of permeability to the reagents used and, therefore, the best staining results were obtained in smear preparations which were fixed in the wet state. The method was also applicable to frozen sections.