Nile blue
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Nile blue | |
---|---|
IUPAC name | Nile blue |
Other names | Nile blue A |
Identifiers | |
CAS number | [3625-57-8] |
PubChem | |
SMILES | CCN(CC)C1=CC2=C(C=C1)N=C3C4= CC=CC=C4C(=[NH2+])C=C3O2.[Cl-] |
Properties | |
Molecular formula | C20H20ClN3O |
Molar mass | 353.845 g/mol |
Except where noted otherwise, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C, 100 kPa) Infobox disclaimer and references |
Nile blue (or Nile blue A) is a stain used in biology and histology. It may be used with live or fixed cells, and imparts a blue colour to cell nuclei.
It may also be used in conjunction with fluorescence microscopy to stain for the presence of polyhydroxybutyrate granules in prokaryotic or eukaryotic cells. Boiling a solution of Nile blue with sulfuric acid produces Nile red (Nile blue oxazone).