title: Fast Fos: rapid protocols for single- and double-labeling c-Fos immunohistochemistry in fresh frozen brain sections.
abstract: Immunohistochemical localization of c-Fos immunoreactivity has been used successfully for over a decade to visualize patterns of neuronal activity in the brain and spinal cord. These experiments are extremely useful in identifying physiological or pharmacological activation of specific populations of neurons. Unfortunately, conventional c-Fos immunohistochemical protocols are very time and resource intensive. We have adapted and optimized established c-Fos immunohistochemistry (IHC) methodologies for use with fresh frozen brain tissue mounted directly onto slides. The resultant rapid protocols, which we refer to as "Fast Fos", include applications for single- and double-labeling, utilizing either enzyme-substrate or fluorescent detection systems. These protocols provide increased assay throughput and reproducibility, which can be further enhanced by use of an automated slide stainer. Taken as a whole, the c-Fos IHC protocols described in this report provide a flexible system for the identification of neuronal activation that substantially reduces time and resource expenditure while increasing quality and reproducibility of data.
authors.affiliation: Neuroscience Discovery Research, Lilly Research Laboratories, Eli Lilly and Company, Indianapolis, IN 46285-0438, USA.
authors.forename: Sarah J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Sundquist
authors.forename: Laura K
authors.initials: LK
authors.lastname: Nisenbaum
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique / Q000379:methods; D005629:Frozen Sections / Q000379:methods; D007150:Immunohistochemistry / Q000379:methods*; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D008297:Male; D009479:Neuropeptides / Q000032:analysis; D000068797:Orexins; D016760:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos / Q000032:analysis*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012985:Software Design; D013194:Staining and Labeling / Q000379:methods*; D013997:Time Factors; D016707:Tissue Fixation / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D009479:Neuropeptides; D000068797:Orexins; D016760:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos