Alcian Blue Staining of Nuclear Chromatin in Insect Gut After Beta-Glucuronidase Treatment

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Sections of the gut (ventriculus and proventriculus) of the cockroaches, Blattus germanicus and Blaberus giganticus, were prepared after fixation in Carnoy's solution. In sections treated with beta-glucuronidase and hyaluronidase (1 nig per 1 ml at pH 7.0), the nuclear chromatin of the epithelium stained deeply with alcian blue (0.1% in 2% acetic acid). The sites of this staining coincided with the green-staining components seen in untreated control sections stained by methyl green-pyronin. Moreover, the alcian blue staining after this treatment agreed closely with the sites of positive Feulgen reaction in control sections. Prior treatment in deoxyribonuclease (1 mg per 10 ml of glass-distilled water) before digestion in beta-glucuronidase nullified the alcian blue staining of the chromatin. Ribonuclease had a similar effect except that after its action the chromatin would still stain with nuclear fast red.