MODIFICATIONS TO HISTOCHEMICAL METHODS FOR PHOSPHOGLYCERIDE AND CEREBROSIDE

Abstract

Gallyas'' hydroxamic acid method for phosophoglyceride has been modified by the introduction of a final stage of gold toning. The method depends on the formation of a metal hydroxamate by alkaline hydrox- ylaminolysis of phosophoglycerides. Adams and Bayliss'' modified PAS reaction for cerebroside has been further modified by the introduction of alkaline hydrolysis to destroy potentially reactive phospho-inositides. After blockades by NaOH, chloranine-T, perfomic acid and 24 dinitrophenyl hydrazine, hexose-containing lipids and poly-saccharides are the only substances which continue to stain by PAS. These lipids and polysaccharides can be distinguished by their different solubilities in chloroform-methanol and water.