title: Acrolein: a fixative for immunocytochemical localization of peptides in the central nervous system.
abstract: Acrolein was examined as an alternative fixative to formaldehyde for immunocytochemical localization of neuropeptides in the rat brain. A brief (5 min) vascular perfusion with a 5% acrolein solution allowed the identification of thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH), vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP), somatostatin (SRIF), neurotensin (NT), methionine enkephalin (Menk), adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), tyrosine hydroxylase (TH), and luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH) in fibers and perikarya within the central nervous system of the rat using the peroxidase-antiperoxidase (PAP) technique. Acrolein appears to be particularly valuable for immunocytochemistry, as it 1) stabilizes heterogeneous peptides and proteins rapidly and effectively, 2) retains antigenicity, and 3) preserves morphological detail.
mesh_terms: D000171:Acrolein; D000447:Aldehydes; D000818:Animals; D001923:Brain Chemistry; D005260:Female; D006651:Histocytochemistry; D006728:Hormones / Q000032:analysis; D007120:Immunochemistry; D008297:Male; D010455:Peptides / Q000032:analysis*; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D013194:Staining and Labeling
chemical_list: D000447:Aldehydes; D006728:Hormones; D010455:Peptides; D000171:Acrolein