Histochemical significance of green metachromasia to Toluidine blue

• DOI: 10.1007/bf00278217
• Publication Date: 2020-06-30T00:59:25Z
• Authors: K. Ramalingam; M. H. Ravindranath
• Keywords: Metachromasia; Toluidine

The significance of green metachromasia to Toluidine blue O, exhibited by vitelline cells of monogeneans and epicuticle of millipedes is elucidated, as due to phenolacid mucopolysaccharide complex, as synthetic phenols or synthetic phenol in combination with heparin or hyaluronic acid gave likewise a green colour to Toluidine blue. The green colour is indicative of a metachromatic reaction is suggested, by its being eliminated or suppressed on treatment with metallic cations or detergent like Sodium oleate, as in other metachromatic reactions. A probable involvement of -OH groups in phenol-acid mucopolysaccharide complex is suggested.