Ruthenium red staining of the neural lamella of the brain of Galleria mellonella

Abstract

The outer surface of the neural lamella, the connective tissue ensheathing the brain, shows the ability to bind ruthenium red in the wax moth larva. Ruthenium red-positive material is sensitive to neuraminidase, hyaluronidase and to some extent to phospholipase C, what suggests that the negative charge on the external surface of the neural lamella depends on the presence of the anionic groups of sialic and hyaluronic acids and phospholipids.