Tomato lectin (from Lycopersicon esculentum) is an effective marker of blood vessels and microglial cells in rodents. Conjugation of the lectin with a fluorophore facilitates fast, one-step detection and visualization using intravascular perfusion methods or direct application to tissue sections. DyLight® 488 labeled tomato lectin has an appropriate number of fluorochromes bound to provide the optimum staining characteristics for this lectin. This conjugate is supplied essentially free of unconjugated fluorochromes. The excitation maximum is at 493 nm and the emission maximum is at 518 nm (green).