Which compound is added to Mayer hematoxylin to generate the active staining form used in nuclear staining?

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Multiple Choice

Which compound is added to Mayer hematoxylin to generate the active staining form used in nuclear staining?

Explanation:
Nuclei are stained by hematoxylin only after it is turned into its active form, hematein, which then complexes with a mordant to bind DNA. In Mayer’s hematoxylin, sodium iodate acts as the oxidizing agent that converts hematoxylin to this active hematein form. Once formed, hematein binds with the mordant present in the stain to produce the characteristic nuclear staining. Other salts do not oxidize hematoxylin, so they don’t generate the active staining form needed for nuclear coloration.

Nuclei are stained by hematoxylin only after it is turned into its active form, hematein, which then complexes with a mordant to bind DNA. In Mayer’s hematoxylin, sodium iodate acts as the oxidizing agent that converts hematoxylin to this active hematein form. Once formed, hematein binds with the mordant present in the stain to produce the characteristic nuclear staining.

Other salts do not oxidize hematoxylin, so they don’t generate the active staining form needed for nuclear coloration.

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