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The value of the fluorescence histochemistry of biogenic amines in neurotoxicology

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Conclusions

Acid- and aldehyde-induced fluorescence offers a highly sensitive and specific instrument for the histochemical demonstration of biogenic amines. This technique can be used to advantage for the selective identification of those neuronal structures that contain biogenic amines, namely the peripheral postganglionic sympathetic neurones and the central aminergic neuronal systems.

Structural changes of impaired aminergic neurones can be ascertained from their fluorescence microscope image and correlated with light and electron microscopical observations, so that selective neurotoxic changes, such as sympathetic denervation of organs, can be detected and the reversibility of these changes tested.

The degree of functional and structural changes occurring in the above neuronal systems can be easily quantified by means of microfluorimetry.

The histochemical approach is restricted by the necessity of using fresh and specially fixed tissues. The possibility of numerous pitfalls in the interpretation of histochemical reactions requires the simultaneous use of other optical methods, such as light and electron microscopy, or the testing of the uptake of exogeneous amines or their precursors, whenever the occurrence of neurotoxic effects is to be assessed.

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  1. Department of Toxicology, Ciba-Geigy Ltd, Basel, Switzerland

    G. Krinke & R. Hess

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  1. G. Krinke
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  2. R. Hess
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Krinke, G., Hess, R. The value of the fluorescence histochemistry of biogenic amines in neurotoxicology. Histochem J 13, 849–863 (1981). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01003294

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