[Effect of histological processing on the nucleic acid, free nucleotide and protein content in the cranial cervical sympathetic ganglion].

By means of biochemical techniques, the stability of free nucleotide contents has been demonstrated in the rabbit sympathetic node fixed in the Carnoy solution for 1--2 hours at 4 degrees C. A 2 hour fixation at room temperature and at 37 degrees, however, results in a considerable loss of free nucleotides--of the total amount in the fresh ganglion tissue, resp., 66.6 and 74.5%. According to these data, the Carnoy solution can be successfully used for a quantitative precipitation of free nucleotides. A histological treatment of this Carnoy fixed sympathetic ganglion (for 2 hours, at 4 degrees) causes no losses of nucleic acids, free nucleotides or protein, does not affect RNA, DNA or protein contents, but leads, however, to a remarkable loss of free nucleotides--up to 45%.