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Thioflavin S fluorescent and congo red anisotropic stainings in the histologic demonstration of amyloid

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Summary

Two methods employed for the histological detection of amyloid, the recently developed Thioflavin S fluorescent microscopic procedure and the Congo red anisotropic staining were compared. It was observed that in senile alterations of the brain, heart, and pancreas and in secondary amyloidosis both methods demonstrate the same structures. Dichroism of Congo red stained structures was also studied and it was found that not only renal amyloid and cerebral senile plaques, but Alzheimer cells are dichroic, too. The specificity of the two methods is discussed.

Zusammenfassung

Zwei für den Nachweis des Amyloids gebrauchte Verfahren, die neu beschriebene fluoreszenzmikroskopische Thioflavin-S-Methode und die anisotropische Kongorot-Färbung, wurden verglichen. Es ließ sich feststellen, daß beide Methoden sowohl in Fällen sekundärer Amyloidose, als auch im Greisenalter (im Gehirn, Pankreas und Herz) dieselben Veränderungen demonstrieren. Dichroismus kongorotgefärbter Strukturen wurde im Nierenamyloid, in senilen Plaques und auch in Alzheimerschen Zellen beobachtet. Die Spezifität der beiden verglichenen Methoden wurde erwogen.

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Author notes

  1. G. Kelényi (Visiting Research Scientist, Warren, Penna.)

    Present address: Department of Pathology, Medical University of Pécs, Pécs, (Hungary)

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  1. Department of Pathology, Warren State Hospital, Warren, Penna., USA

    G. Kelényi (Visiting Research Scientist, Warren, Penna.)

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Kelényi, G. Thioflavin S fluorescent and congo red anisotropic stainings in the histologic demonstration of amyloid. Acta Neuropathol 7, 336–348 (1967). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00688089

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00688089

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