Metachromatic reaction of pseudoisocyanine with sulfatides in metachromatic leukodystrophy (MLD)

Summary

With a new staining method, using pseudoisocyanine as a metachromatic dye, accumulations of stored sulfatides in all forms of MLD could be detected on frozen sections of peripheral nerve and other tissues. With pseudoisocyanine sulfatide-micelles develop a “polymeric band” characterized by its maximum absorption at 583 nm (maximum absorption of the monomeric dye is at 530 nm). By staining sulfatide depositions with pseudoisocyanine a red-violet metachromasia is developed on a nearly pale red or colorless background of tissue. The short staining time and the high sensitivity are additional advantages of the method.