Nonheme-iron histochemistry for light and electron microscopy: a historical, theoretical and technical review

R Meguro, Y Asano, S Odagiri, C Li… - Archives of histology …, 2007 - jstage.jst.go.jp
R Meguro, Y Asano, S Odagiri, C Li, H Iwatsuki, K Shoumura
Archives of histology and cytology, 2007jstage.jst.go.jp
We reviewed the methods of nonheme-iron histochemistry with special focus on the
underlying chemical principles. The term nonheme-iron includes heterogeneous species of
iron complexes where iron is more loosely bound to low-molecular weight organic bases
and proteins than that of heme (iron-protoporphyrin complex). Nonheme-iron is liberated in
dilute acid solutions and available for conventional histochemistry by the Perls and Turnbull
and other methods using iron chelators, which depend on the production of insoluble iron …
Summary
We reviewed the methods of nonheme-iron histochemistry with special focus on the underlying chemical principles. The term nonheme-iron includes heterogeneous species of iron complexes where iron is more loosely bound to low-molecular weight organic bases and proteins than that of heme (iron-protoporphyrin complex). Nonheme-iron is liberated in dilute acid solutions and available for conventional histochemistry by the Perls and Turnbull and other methods using iron chelators, which depend on the production of insoluble iron compounds. Treatment with strong oxidative agents is required for the liberation of heme-iron, which therefore is not stained by conventional histochemistry. The Perls method most commonly used in laboratory investigations largely stains ferric iron, but stains some ferrous iron as well, while the Turnbull method is specific for the latter. Although
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