Effects of different fuchsin analogs on the Feulgen reaction.

The Feulgen reaction is used for cytophotometric quantitation of nuclear DNA. Schiff's reagents used in the Feulgen reaction usually are prepared from basic fuchsin, a variable mixture of four triaminotriphenylmethane analogs. The effect of the several fuchsin analogs on the quality of Schiff's staining of hydrolyzed DNA is not known. In this investigation Schiff's reagents prepared from relatively pure fuchsin analogs were used to determine whether different fuchsin analogs affect the absorbance of the Schiff's reagent-DNA complexes formed in solution. It has been determined that the complex formed by pararosaniline-Schiff's reagent and hydrolyzed DNA exhibits lower absorption than do corresponding complexes formed by Schiff's reagents prepared from magenta II or from new fuchsin.