Final answer:
During karyolysis, the staining ability of the cell decreases. This is because the DNA, which the stain binds to, is being broken down and dispersed throughout the cell. The decrease in staining intensity can indicate that karyolysis has taken place.
Step-by-step explanation:
During the process of karyolysis, which is the dissolution of the cell's nucleus, the staining ability decreases. This happens because the cell's DNA, which typically binds with stains, is being broken down and spread throughout the cell. For example, when using a stain like methylene blue, it would stain DNA in an intact nucleus, but following karyolysis, there is less DNA to bind to the stain.
Stains, or dyes, contain salts made up of a positive ion and a negative ion. Depending on the type of dye, the positive or the negative ion may be the chromophore (the colored ion); the other, uncolored ion is called the counterion.
Therefore, the staining process becomes less effective as there is less DNA for the stain to bind to, and the color will appear lighter or less intense. This change in staining ability is one of the indicators that karyolysis has occurred.
Learn more about karyolysis