Potassium ferricyanide: a stabilizer for horseradish peroxidase.

Sodium nitroprusside has been used as a stabilizing agent for HRP histochemistry since 1919. However, it is known to have toxic effects orally, intravenously, and subcutaneously. In order to avoid the use of sodium nitroprusside as a stabilizer in HRP histochemistry, we have tested other chemically related compounds to stabilize the reaction product equally well. We will show that potassium ferricyanide is an excellent stabilizer of the chromogen reaction product. In addition, the reaction product remains stable without noticeable changes over a period of several months. As it is far less toxic than sodium nitroprusside, it should be the stabilizer of choice, especially in those laboratories where the histochemical HRP reaction is used frequently.