Hoechst 33342 Nuclear Stain

Hoechst dyes are commonly used blue fluorescent stains that bind to DNA and can pass through cell membranes, making them suitable for labeling the nuclei of both live and fixed cells. These dyes exhibit low fluorescence in solution but become strongly fluorescent once bound to DNA, allowing effective staining without the need for washing. The fluorescence signal is stable, and the dyes are non-toxic to live cells for extended periods.

Hoechst 33342, a well-known DNA minor-groove-binding dye, is particularly permeable to cell membranes and is frequently used in nuclear staining for cell health assays, live-cell imaging, and cell cycle analysis. Hoechst dyes can undergo UV-induced photoconversion, which may lead to additional fluorescence signals in the FITC or Cy®3 (green) channels. This effect can interfere with the imaging of other fluorescent probes or labeled antibodies. For this reason, we highly recommend using the Atlas™ Imaging System, which is specifically designed to minimize crosstalk, reducing it to a level that is barely detectable.

Specifications

Hoechst 33342 Nuclear Stain PN 926-21973 contains 10 mg/mL in 10 mL H2O.

For Research Use Only. Not for use in diagnostic procedures. 

Storage

Store at 4 °C, protected from light. This product is stable for at least 1 year from date of receipt when stored as recommended. It is not recommended to store working solutions of Hoechst dye, as the dye will be lost to precipitation or adsorption to the container over time.