[Histonet] "MBS" in Luxol Fast Blue MBS

[John Kiernan]

Your message appeared all right, but nobody
answered. It probably means nobody knows what the
MBS stands for. Luxol fast blues are not a
chemical group of dyes. They are arylguanidinium
salts of anionic dyes (rather than the usual
sodium salts). This makes the dyes soluble in
alcohol but not in water. When sections are
stained, the organic cation stays in the alcohol,
and the coloured anion lodges in the rather
myelin. Like any other anionic dye, a luxol can be
differentiated by alkali. Luxol fast blue MBS is a
phthalocyanine dye; luxol fast blues G and ARN are
azo dyes. See Clasen et al. 1973 J. Neuropath.
Exp. Neurol. 32:271-283 for more on this subject,
including how to make your own luxol-type dyes.

John Kiernan
London, Canada
-----------------------------
mlb <@t> nmr.mgh.harvard.edu wrote:
> 
> Hi, I had tried sending this message upon joining
> histonet, but I didn't see it in the archive. That
> could be why I haven't gotten a reply yet! Here it
> is again:
> 
> Hi, I've been using luxol fast blue MBS for myelin
> staining and would like to know what the acronym "MBS"
> represents.
> 
> I have read many primary sources, such as articles by
> Kluver and Barrera as well as Salthouse, and I have
> performed internet searches with Google, all to no
> avail (other than finding histonet!).
> 
> Thanks for your help!
> Megan
> =-)
> 
> p.s. Also, any explanations of the other acronyms used
>      in luxol dyes (ARN, G and the "N" in MBSN) would
>      be much appreciated!
> 
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