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CYTOCHEMICAL FLUORESCENCE MICROSCOPY

Cytochemical fluorescence microscopy uses fluorescent molecules as reporters for specific properties of the
material under study. These properties include organelle identity, ion concentration, presence of an enzyme
activity, and location of macromolecules including nucleic acids and lipids. Fluorescent dyes have been used
successfully to localize cellular organelles in both plants and animals. The chemical structure (hydrophobic,
hydrophilic, planar) or the fluorescent properties of certain dyes (pH- or calcium-dependent fluorescence,
esterase susceptibility) have led to their wide use in cell biology.

Table 2 lists some of the most widely used fluorescent dyes.

Below is a table showing the other fluorochromes used more by type of component cellular.