Lucifer yellow - an angel rather than the devil

J Cell Mol Med. 2012 Jan;16(1):22-31. doi: 10.1111/j.1582-4934.2011.01378.x.

Abstract

The fluorescent dye Lucifer yellow (LY) was introduced in 1978, and has been extremely useful in studying cell structure and communications. This dye has been used mostly for labelling cells by intracellular injection from microelectrodes. This review describes the numerous applications of LY, with emphasis on the enteric nervous system and interstitial cells of Cajal. Of particular importance is the dye coupling method, which enables the detection of cell coupling by gap junctions.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cell Communication / physiology*
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Cytological Techniques
  • Electrophysiology / methods
  • Fluorescence Recovery After Photobleaching / methods
  • Fluorescent Dyes / chemistry
  • Fluorescent Dyes / metabolism*
  • Gap Junctions / physiology*
  • Interstitial Cells of Cajal / cytology
  • Interstitial Cells of Cajal / metabolism
  • Isoquinolines / chemistry
  • Isoquinolines / metabolism*
  • Molecular Structure
  • Neurons / cytology
  • Neurons / metabolism
  • Staining and Labeling / methods

Substances

  • Fluorescent Dyes
  • Isoquinolines
  • lucifer yellow