Photoconversion and electron microscopic localization of the fluorescent axon tracer fluoro-ruby (rhodamine-dextran-amine)

Abstract

Fluoro-Ruby, the fluorescent tetramethylrhodamine-dextran-amine used to demonstrate anterograde axon transport, has been successfully photoconverted and subsequently localized by electron microscopy. The photoconversion was accomplished by irradiating the tissue with green light while bathing it in a solution containing DAB. The tissue could then be examined by brightfield microscopy or processed for conventional electron microscopy. Potential advantages of the technique include greater permanence and contrast at the light microscopic level and the ability to resolve synaptic connectivity at the electron microscopic level.