| abstract |
Embodiments of the present invention provide a method for selectively detecting myelin in tissue samples using lipophilic dyes and kits for detecting myelin in a sample. The dyes of the present invention are represented by the general formula A-B-E wherein A is a nitrogen heterocycle, B is a bridge moiety and E is an electron pair accepting moiety that comprises either a carbonyl or nitrogen atom. In one embodiment these lipophilic dyes are a merocyanine dye, a cyanine dye, a styryl dye or a carbazolylvinyl dye. |