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The effect of polyvinyl alcohol and polyvinyl pyrrolidone on diffusion artifacts in lactate dehydrogenase histochemistry

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Summary

The effect of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP), alone and in combination, on diffusion artifacts in histochemical incubations has been investigated using LDH as model enzyme. By measuring the amount of formazan in the medium at the end of the incubation it has been shown that both substances, but especially PVA, are effective in limiting diffusion. The significance of this is discussed in general as well as in relation to other procedures used to reduce diffusion artifacts.

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Abbreviations

NAD:

β-Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide

NADH:

β-Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide, Reduced form

PVA:

Polyvinyl alcohol

PVP:

Polyvinyl pyrrolidone

PMS:

Phenazine methosulfate

tris:

tris (hydroxymethyl)-aminomethan

Nitro-BT:

Nitro Blue Tetrazolium

LDH:

Lactic dehydrogenase

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Anatomy, Dental Faculty, and Anatomical Institute, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway

    Hans A. Dahl &  Svein Ivar Mellgren

  2. Anatomical institute, University of Bergen, 5000, Bergen, Norway

    Svein Ivar Mellgren

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  1. Hans A. Dahl
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  2. Svein Ivar Mellgren
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Dahl, H.A., Mellgren, S.I. The effect of polyvinyl alcohol and polyvinyl pyrrolidone on diffusion artifacts in lactate dehydrogenase histochemistry. Histochemie 24, 354–370 (1970). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00278221

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