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Abstract
The fluorescent carbocyanine dyes dil and diO have an extensive history of use in
cell biology, but their use as neuronal tracers is relatively recent. We found in
1985 that these molecules were excellent retrograde and anterograde tracers in the
developing nervous system. We went on to show that these dyes were retained in neurons
placed in culture, that they initially labelled the processes as well as the cell
bodies of cultured neurons, and that they were seemingly non-toxic. We suggested that
the major mechanism of translocation for these molecules was lateral diffusion in
the membrane, rather than fast axonal transport. This suggestion was recently confirmed
in a striking manner by Godement et al., when they showed that these dyes can be used
to label axonal projections in fixed tissues. Labelling with carbocyanine dyes has
already allowed several exciting advances in developmental neurobiology. In this article
we review the properties of carbocyanine dyes and point out some of their uses and
advantages.