Fluorescent Neuronal Tracers

This chapter provides an overview of fluorescent neuronal tracers and primulin-fluorescent granules, which can be easily differentiated from the autofluorescent clumps that are also located in the cytoplasm, but which fluoresce brown-yellow at 360 nm, however, in neurons in which the cy toplasm is filled with these autof LU clumps, the primulin granules may be difficult to detect.

Abstract

This chapter provides an overview of fluorescent neuronal tracers. Neurons retrogradely, labeled with diamidinophenylindole (DAPI), display a bright blue fluorescence of the nucleus and a duller blue fluorescence of the cytoplasm when viewed with filter-mirror system A. The labeled neurons are frequently surrounded by blue fluorescent glial nuclei. When viewed with filter-mirror system D, DAPI-labeled neurons show green fluorescence. Primulin-labeled neurons, when viewed with filter-mirror systems A and D, display golden fluorescent granules in the cytoplasm; however, they exhibit no labeling of the nucleus. The primulin-fluorescent granules can be easily differentiated from the autofluorescent clumps that are also located in the cytoplasm, but which fluoresce brown-yellow at 360 nm. However, in neurons in which the cytoplasm is filled with these autofluorescent clumps, the primulin granules may be difficult to detect.