1974 Volume 26 Issue 4 Pages 503-515
To overcome the problem of non-specific staining presented by the ferric ferricyanide method for the protein-bound disulfide and sulfhydryl groups, an attempt to modify this method was made by means of the colloidal solution of ferric hydroxide used in MUller's method, instead of ferric sulphate or chloride. This modified method was then applied to the human hypothalamo-neurohypophyseal system to detect the disulfide groups in the neurosecretory substance. The materials used in this study were normal human brains and the brain from an autopsy case of Sheehan's postpartum necrosis. The staining methods used for comparison were the DDD method of Barrnett et al., Chveremont and Frederic's ferricyanide method, Gomori's neotetrazolium method, Bargmann's chrome-alum hematoxylin method, the performic acid-alcian blue staining, the performic acid-aldehyde fuchsin staining, and the periodic acid-Schiff reaction.
By using the colloidal ferric hydroxide method, some distinct difference in the degree of disulfide-positive reaction found in the neurosecretory substance in the nucleus paraventricularis, nucleus supraopticus, infudibulum, and lobus posterior of the hypophysis could be observed between the brain of a case of Sheehan's postpartem necrosis and the normal human brains.
