ruthenium red

Ruthenium red is a polycationic inorganic dye, chemically a complex of ammoniated ruthenium oxychloride, most commonly used as a histological and cytological stain for visualizing mucopolysaccharides and aldehyde-fixed biological samples[3][4][5]. It is also widely used in research as a pharmacological tool; it is a nonselective inhibitor of multiple calcium-permeable ion channels, including ryanodine receptors, L-type voltage-gated calcium channels, and mitochondrial calcium uniporters[2][3][5][7][8][9]. Ruthenium red inhibits release and uptake of calcium in mitochondria and the sarcoplasmic reticulum, and also blocks several transient receptor potential (TRP) channels, among other ion channels[3][9]. Due to its broad calcium channel blocking activity, it is also used experimentally to modulate intracellular calcium dynamics. Ruthenium red is mainly utilized for laboratory and research purposes—there is no evidence for therapeutic medical use or pharmaceutical approvals in humans.

Other names

ammoniated ruthenium oxychlorideruthenium(III) chloride oxide ammoniatedtetraamminechlorohydroxoruthenium(III) chloridehexachlorotriruthenoxane tetradecaaminetriruthenoxane-1,1,3,3,5,5-hexakis(ylium) tetradecaamine hexachlorideColor Index 77800CI 77800CI77800CI-77800ruthenium saltruthenium red test solutionruthenium red for microscopyruthenium(III) chloride oxideruthenium red high dye contentruthenium red research grade