Congo red binding of elastin in aortic smooth muscle cell cultures.

These studies demonstrate that the strong binding capacity of elastin for Congo red can be used to advantage in aortic smooth muscle cell cultures. A fibrous elastin network fluoresces when Congo red is added. Congo red does not alter accumulation of elastin or of total protein, even when the cells are grown in the presence of the dye for long periods of time, indicating that it is not toxic. Porcine pancreatic elastase was used to solubilize elastin in these cultures, to determine the molar ratio of Congo red to elastin, thus making it possible to estimate the amount of elastin solubilized when the cultures are injured. Congo red binding to elastin will be useful in studying elastin accumulation and/or degradation in vitro and in vivo.