Studies in lipid histochemistry

The effect of bromination (carried out especially with potassium tribromide and with bromine water) on various chemical groups in lipids and nonlipidic substances in tissue sections and in spot tests was investigated. Bromination blocks rapidly and effectively the reaction of double bonds with osmium tetroxide in unsaturated fatty acids, in phosphoglycerides, and nonpolar lipids, whereas in sphingolipids some residual staining persists even when the blocking period is prolonged. Similar results were obtained in the case of the UV-Schiff reaction. The vinylether bond in plasmalogens is blocked completely but not so rapidly.