The Feulgen reaction: A brief review and new perspectives

Nuclear parameters and chromatin remodeling in epithelial cells and lymphocytes from the palpebral conjunctiva of dogs with keratoconjunctivitis sicca

“…Cytological preparations from the conjunctival surface were subjected to the Feulgen reaction, a topochemical method specific for DNA/chromatin. 20,30,31 Acid hydrolysis was performed in 4 M HCl for 40 minutes at 25°C for the generation of deoxyribose in an aldehyde form. 20 The hydrolysis reaction was quenched by rapid treatment with cold 0.1 M HCl.…”

“…[24][25][26][27][28][29] Nuclear size and shape, DNA content (ploidy), and chromatin remodeling can be studied in cytological preparations using video image analysis and the Feulgen reaction. 20,30 Video image analysis in Feulgen-stained preparations is recommended to evaluate defined cell populations. 20 In addition to reporting on supraorganizational and functional parameters of the chromatin fiber (compaction and texture), the method provides information on the geometry of the cell nucleus and allows quantification of DNA ploidy by generating an equivalent cytometric of chromosomal ploidy.…”

“…20 In addition to reporting on supraorganizational and functional parameters of the chromatin fiber (compaction and texture), the method provides information on the geometry of the cell nucleus and allows quantification of DNA ploidy by generating an equivalent cytometric of chromosomal ploidy. 20,30 The Feulgen reaction is a stoichiometric DNA-staining technique that consists of two steps. 20,30,31 In the first step, the DNA is submitted to acid hydrolysis to split off the purine bases from the double-stranded DNA.…”

“…20,30 The Feulgen reaction is a stoichiometric DNA-staining technique that consists of two steps. 20,30,31 In the first step, the DNA is submitted to acid hydrolysis to split off the purine bases from the double-stranded DNA. The result is an apurinic acid presenting free aldehyde groups at the C1 position of the deoxyribose.…”

“…20,30 In the second step, a Schiff base binds to the aldehyde groups and produces a magenta color whose intensity is proportional to the DNA content. 20,30 The objective of this research was to study video image analysis parameters related to nuclear morphology (size and shape), DNA content, and chromatin remodeling (ie changes in compaction and texture of chromatin) in epithelial cells and lymphocytes collected by brush cytology from the inferior palpebral conjunctiva of dogs with KCS. Nuclei in cells from the palpebral conjunctiva of dogs without KCS were also studied and used as controls.…”