STAINING, PRACTICAL AND THEORETICAL 



Fast blue B salt (Michrome salt 



250) . . . . . . . . 0-04 gm. 



E. Methyl green, 1% aqueous 



Technique: 



1. Fix smears in solution A for five minutes. 



2. Wash for five minutes in running water. 



3. Immerse in solution D for fifteen to thirty minutes at room 

 temperature. 



4. Wash well in distilled water. 



5. Counterstain with methyl green 1% aqueous, if desired. 



Results: 



Esterase activity is indicated by a brownish black precipitate 

 within the cells. 



Notes: 



{a) The author states that in his experience, esterase is consist- 

 ently demonstrable only in blood monocytes, whether normal or 

 leukaemic, and that esterase activity has never been observed in 

 neutrophils, even on prolonged incubation (25° C). 



{b) It is also stated that occasionally minute brown granules 

 were encountered in lymphocytes, but it was never certain that 

 these represented evidence of esterase activity. 



(c) The original paper should be consulted for photomicro- 

 graph and further information. 



Reference: Braunstein, H. (1959). 



NEOTETRAZOLIUM CHLORmE 



For the demonstration of succinic dehydrogenase in 



ascites tumour cells 



Solutions required: 



A. Neotetrazolium chloride* 1% aqueous 



*Note: This is very costly, and extravagant 

 quantities of the solution should not therefore be 

 prepared. 



B. Sodium succinate (Molecular weight 270-16) M/5 



C. Phosphate buffer M/io, pH 7-4 



320 



