This is from the Histonet archives. JA Kiernan responded to
a question about the Filipin stain for cholesterol back
in April 14, 1999.

Hope this is what you are looking for.


I recently tried the fluorescent Filipin stain for cholesterol, as
>found in Bancroft and Stevens.  Problem is, I'm having a hard time finding
>any information about how the stain works.

  The filipin molecule attaches to cholesterol in cell membranes,
  and has been used as a label in electron microscopy. For a paper
  reporting its use, see:

  Pelletier, M & Vitale ML   1994.  Filipin vs enzymatic localization of 
  cholesterol in guinae pig, mink and mallard duck testicular cells. 
  J. Histochem. Cytochem.  42(12): 1539-1554.

  This is a paper in which filipin is used. The references might send
  you back to some of the basic science of the method. Sorry I
  can't provide anything better than this. (Perhaps Bancroft & Stevens
  has some refs - I don't own the latest edition so can't immediately
  check.)


Peggy A. Wenk, HTL(ASCP)
William Beaumont Hospital
Royal Oak, MI 48073

Keith Rogers wrote:
> 
> Our pathologist dug this one up somewhere but has no reference. He assures
> me it is Filipin and not flipin!
> Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
> 
> Also, many thanks for the TRAP replies.
> 
> Keith Rogers
> 
> NCI-FCRDC