Ribonucleotide analysis of individual nerve cells

CHEMICAL analyses of individual body cells are valuable in view of the importance of exact localization of substances; but reliable analyses can, however, be performed only to a limited extent. This is due to the difficulties of applying biochemical procedures in dimensions of the order of magnitude in question. It has therefore been necessary to rely almost entirely on histophotometric methods. In most cases there are only restricted possibilities of obtaining chemical data on the cell by such means. An account is given in the following of a procedure for the extraction, isolation and hydrolysis of the ribonucleic acid in individual nerve cells, with subsequent separation and identification of the mono-nucleotides formed.