Hoechst stains are part of a family of blue fluorescent dyes used to stain DNA.[1][2] These bis-benzimides were originally developed by Hoechst AG, which numbered all their compounds so that the dye Hoechst 33342 is the 33,342nd compound made by the company. There are three related Hoechst stains: Hoechst 33258, Hoechst 33342, and Hoechst 34580. The dyes Hoechst 33258 and Hoechst 33342 are the ones most commonly used and they have similar excitation–emission spectra.
- ^ Latt, SA; Stetten, G; Juergens, LA; Willard, HF; Scher, CD (July 1975). "Recent developments in the detection of deoxyribonucleic acid synthesis by 33258 Hoechst fluorescence". Journal of Histochemistry and Cytochemistry. 23 (7): 493–505. doi:10.1177/23.7.1095650. PMID 1095650.
- ^ Latt, SA; Stetten, G (January 1976). "Spectral studies on 33258 Hoechst and related bisbenzimidazole dyes useful for fluorescent detection of deoxyribonucleic acid synthesis". Journal of Histochemistry and Cytochemistry. 24 (1): 24–33. doi:10.1177/24.1.943439. PMID 943439.