High Resolution Light Microscopy and Immunocytochemistry Using Glycol Methacrylate-Embedded Sections and Immunogold-Silver Staining

Abstract

The immunogold silver technique was modified so that 1-2 micron thick glycol methacrylate sections could routinely be used for high resolution immunocytochemistry. A rabbit anti-human hemoglobin antibody was used to demonstrate the distribution of exogenous hemoglobin in mouse tissues. Inclusion of 0.1% glutaraldehyde in the primary formalin fixation improved tissue appearance. Glutaraldehyde treatment after colloidal gold antibody application increased the staining intensity, and gold chloride intensification of the silver-enhanced colloidal gold further improved immunosensitivity. Thus a more accurate analysis of hemoglobin distribution in tissue was obtained. The benefit of these enhancements was also demonstrated for localizing myelin basic protein in brain and for determining the proliferative status of tissue by localization of bromodeoxyuridine incorporation into nuclei. The efficiency of manual capillary-action staining performed during all steps in the immunogold-silver staining protocol was also demonstrated. This greatly simplified the procedure, reduced technician time, and produced better staining consistency. The immunogold-silver staining technique is simple, sensitive, economical, and relatively nontoxic.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Dec 30, 1991
Accession Number
ADA245163

Entities

People

  • David E. Tacha
  • Luann Mckinney
  • Phillip D. Bowman

Organizations

  • Letterman Army Hospital

Tags

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Alkanes
  • Antibodies
  • Biomedical And Dental Materials
  • Blood
  • Electron Microscopy
  • High Resolution
  • Immune Serums
  • Immunostaining
  • Liquid Chromatography
  • Microprobes
  • Microscopy
  • Microvessels
  • Polymeric Films
  • Proteins
  • Rocket Oxidizers
  • Technicians
  • Tissues

Fields of Study

  • Medicine

Readers

  • Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry
  • Oncology and Biomarker-Based Cancer Detection.