THE FORMALDEHYDE FLUORESCENCE METHOD FOR THE HISTOCHEMICAL DEMONSTRATION OF BIOGENIC MONOAMINES A REVIEW ON THE METHODOLOGY

The histochemical fluorescence method of Falck and Hillarp for the demonstration of biogenic monoamines is based on the finding that the amines can be condensed with formaldehyde to yield strongly fluorescent compounds, provided that they are enclosed in a dried protein layer, as in freeze-dried or air-dried tissues. This review deals mainly with certain principal features of the method: its chemistry, sensitivity, specificity and possibilities for histochemical differentiation between the various amines. Some comments are made on certain of the results obtained with this method.