title: Unconventional application of standard light and electron immunocytochemical analysis to aldehyde-fixed, araldite-embedded tissues.
abstract: A simple procedure for the immunocytochemical analysis of glutaraldehyde/formaldehyde-fixed, Araldite- or Epon-embedded tissues by either light or electron microscopy is presented. Retention of immunoreactive antigen in deplasticized sections was achieved by use of a low concentration of glutaraldehyde in the fixative in combination with a seldom-used plastic solvent. This protocol produced good ultrastructural preservation in tissues and large, high-quality, 2-micrometers thick, plastic-free sections. These semithin sections provided a level of structural and antigenic preservation, image resolution, and labeling intensity that surpassed all other conventional sectioning methods used for immunocytochemistry. The capacity to use a single tissue sample in studies designed for light and electron immunocytochemistry, in conjunction with existing autoradiographic and cytochemical techniques, makes this a very desirable method for routine tissue preparation in research and clinical applications.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004853:Epoxy Resins; D005260:Female; D005404:Fixatives; D005557:Formaldehyde; D005976:Glutaral; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D008321:Mammary Glands, Animal / Q000032:analysis; D008325:Mammary Neoplasms, Experimental / Q000032:analysis; D008324:Mammary Tumor Virus, Mouse / Q000648:ultrastructure; D051379:Mice; D008809:Mice, Inbred C3H; D008853:Microscopy; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D010796:Phthalic Anhydrides; D011506:Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D012867:Skin / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D004853:Epoxy Resins; D005404:Fixatives; D010796:Phthalic Anhydrides; D011506:Proteins; D005557:Formaldehyde; C005752:araldite; D005976:Glutaral