Chlorous Acid as An Agent for Blocking Tissue Aldehydes

Abstract

Chlorous acid (HClO₂), which is known to convert aldehyde groups to carboxylic groups, was found to be an effective blocking agent for tissue aldehydes. A 0.2 M solution of NaClO₂ in 1 M acetic acid was found to block completely the Feulgen, PAS, ninhydrin-Schiff and plasmal reaction within 8 hr at 20 C. This blocking reaction appears to be irreversible.