DAPI (4',6-diamidino-2-phenylindole) Stains Compact Amyloid Plaques

Abstract

DAPI is conventionally used as a nuclear stain for cells in culture or tissue. Here we demonstrate that it binds specifically to the β-sheet core of amyloid-β plaques but not diffuse amyloid-β at the plaque periphery. The specific DAPI induced blue fluorescence is much stronger than amyloid plaque autofluorescence. DAPI staining of fibrillar amyloid deposit may yield a misleading impression of damaged or dying cells. On the other hand, it provides a handy and low-cost means of staining compact amyloid plaques together with cell nuclei in double or triple immunofluorescent studies.

Keywords: Alzheimer’s disease; DAPI; amyloid-β plaques; autofluorescence.