A New Classification of Biological Dyes by Electron Probe Microanalysis

Abstract

By electron probe microanalysis, biological dyes were re-classified as an ultrastructural marker. Biological dyes, in this respect, fall into three groups. Group 1: dyes containing particular atomic species such as Fe, Cu, Br, Ru and Hg (e. g., Alcian blue 8 GX, Eosin Y and Ruthenium red), Group 2: dyes which contain as detectable elements only those such as Na, Cl, K and S (e. g., Orang G, Aniline blue and Toluidine blue), and Group 3: dyes being 'indifferent' from the view-point of electron probe microanalysis (e. g., Picric acid, Sudan IV and Hematoxylin). Most of the commercial dye samples contain impurieties, which may interfere with the detection of target elements of interest. The contaminants in dye samples detectable by this technique included Na, S, Cl, K, Ca, Fe and Zn. It is, therefore, necessary to test impurieties of samples in actual use. We may suggest that the understanding of biological dyes and related substances as a valuable tool for ultrastructure research will be advanced in the future when used along with the technique of electron probe microanalysis.