title: Fixation techniques for secretory component in human lacrimal gland and conjunctiva.
abstract: We compared biopsy specimens of human lacrimal gland and conjunctiva preserved by alcohol-acetic acid with the same tissues preserved by freezing to find secretory component. Secretory component was found in lacrimal gland preserved both by alcohol-acetic acid and by freezing. The structure of the tissue was better preserved with the alcohol-acetic acid fixation. Three of eight conjunctival specimens preserved by alcohol-acetic acid showed weak staining for secretory component in a few superficial epithelial cells. We found nonspecific staining of the conjunctiva with the control antiserum, rhodamine-labeled goat antibovine serum. Two specimens preserved by freezing were unreadable; four of the remaining six stained nonspecifically with the remaining two specimens stained with neither the control nor the experimental antiserum; the second may have had more staining with the experimental antiserum than with the control. We found no evidence for including the conjunctiva in the secretory IgA immune system.
mesh_terms: D003228:Conjunctiva / Q000276:immunology*; D005404:Fixatives; D005615:Freezing; D006801:Humans; D007128:Immunoglobulin Fragments / Q000032:analysis*; D007765:Lacrimal Apparatus / Q000276:immunology*; D011309:Preservation, Biological; D012635:Secretory Component / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D005404:Fixatives; D007128:Immunoglobulin Fragments; D012635:Secretory Component