1 Introduction ................................................. 1
What Is Immunocytochemistry? ................................. 1
What Can Immunocytochemistry Tell Us? ........................ 2
An Outline of the Immunocytochemistry Procedure .............. 4
What Is Included in This Book? ............................... 5
2 Antibodies ................................................... 7
Introduction ................................................. 7
Antibody Molecules ........................................... 8
Making Antibodies ........................................... 10
Talking About Antibodies .................................... 13
Finding and Getting Antibodies .............................. 14
Choice of Primary (1°) Antibodies ........................... 15
Antibodies Handling and Storing ............................. 16
Recommended Storage Freezer, -20°С .......................... 16
Recommended Storage Refrigerator, 4°C ....................... 16
3 Sample Preparation/Fixation ................................. 17
Introduction ................................................ 17
Fixation Theory ............................................. 18
Chemical Fixatives .......................................... 19
Vehicle ..................................................... 22
Applying Fixatives .......................................... 24
Dissecting the Area of Interest .......................... 25
Protocol - Fixation ......................................... 26
Components for Paraformaldehyde Fixative ................. 26
Procedure ................................................... 27
Perfusion Procedure ...................................... 27
Perfusion Equipment ...................................... 28
Drop-in-Fixation ......................................... 28
4 Tissue Sectioning ........................................... 29
Introduction ................................................ 29
Embedding Tissue by Freezing ................................ 30
Theory of Freezing Tissue ................................... 30
Freezing Tissue ............................................. 32
Cryostat Sectioning ......................................... 33
Tissue Processing ........................................... 37
Vibratome, Freezing Microtome, and Microwave ................ 39
Fresh Frozen Tissue ......................................... 41
Embedding Tissue with Paraffin .............................. 41
Cryostat Protocol ........................................... 42
5 Blocking and Permeability ................................... 45
Introduction ................................................ 45
Nonspecific Antibody Binding to Tissue and Cells ............ 45
Blocking for Nonspecific Antibody Binding ................... 47
Permeabilize Tissue and Cells to Allow Antibody
Penetration ................................................. 49
Effects of Blocking Agents on Antibody Penetration .......... 51
Combined Incubation Step .................................... 53
6 Labels for Antibodies ....................................... 55
Introduction ................................................ 55
Fluorescence Theory ......................................... 56
Four Generations of Fluorescent Labels ...................... 58
Immunocytochemistry Fluorophores and Flow Cytometry ......... 59
Choosing Fluorochromes ...................................... 61
Enzyme Theory ............................................... 61
Enzyme Substrates ........................................... 61
Particulate Label ........................................... 63
Choice of Fluorescent or Enzymes for Immunocytochemistry .... 64
7 Application Methods ......................................... 65
Introduction ................................................ 66
Direct Immunocytochemistry .................................. 66
Direct Immunocytochemistry Advantages .................... 67
Direct Immunocytochemistry Disadvantages ................. 67
Indirect Immunocytochemistry ................................ 67
Indirect Immunocytochemistry Advantages .................. 68
Indirect Immunocytochemistry Disadvantages ............... 68
Avidin-Biotin Molecules ..................................... 68
Direct Avidin-Biotin Immunocytochemistry .................... 69
Direct Avidin-Biotin Method Advantages ................... 70
Direct Avidin-Biotin Method Disadvantages ................ 70
Indirect Avidin-Biotin Immunocytochemistry .................. 70
Indirect Avidin-Biotin Advantages ........................ 71
Indirect Avidin-Biotin Disadvantages ..................... 71
Avidin-Biotin Complex (ABC) Immunocytochemistry ............. 71
Avidin-Biotin Complex (ABC) Advantages ................... 73
Avidin-Biotin Complex (ABC) Disadvantages ................ 73
Tyramide Signal Amplification (TSA) Immunocytochemistry ..... 73
Tyramide. Signal Amplification Advantages ................ 74
Tyramide Signal Amplification Disadvantages .............. 75
ABC with TSA ................................................ 75
ABC with TSA Advantages .................................. 77
ABC with TSA Disadvantages ............................... 77
8 Controls .................................................... 79
Introduction ................................................ 79
Three Immunocytochemistry Controls .......................... 79
1. 1° Antibody Controls .................................. 80
2. 2° Antibody Controls .................................. 84
3. Labeling Controls ..................................... 85
9 Method and Label Decision ................................... 89
Introduction ................................................ 89
Choose Application Label and Method ......................... 89
Experimental Design Chart ................................... 93
10 Single Antibody Procedure ................................... 97
Introduction ................................................ 97
Experimental Design Chart ................................... 98
Incubation Conditions ....................................... 98
Antibody Dilutions ......................................... 100
Antibody Dilution Matrix ................................... 102
2° Antibody Controls ....................................... 102
Rinses ..................................................... 104
Mounting Media ............................................. 105
Final Procedure ............................................ 106
Steps in a Single 1° Antibody Indirect
Immunocytochemistry Experiment .......................... 106
Steps in a Single 1° Antibody Immunocytochemistry
Experiment for Ag A .................................... 107
11 Multiple Antibodies Different Species ...................... 111
Introduction ............................................... 111
Combining Two 1° Antibody Incubations ...................... 112
Experimental Design Chart .................................. 112
Designing 2° Antibody Controls ............................. 113
Rules for Multiple Label Experiments ....................... 113
Complete Final Procedure ................................... 115
(D) Block and Permeabilize ............................. 116
(E) Rinse after Block and Permeabilize ................. 116
(F) 1° Antibodies ...................................... 117
(G) Rinse After 1° Antibody ............................ 117
(H) 2° Antibody ........................................ 117
(I) Rinse After 2° Antibody ............................ 117
12 Multiple Antibodies from the Same Species .................. 119
Introduction ............................................... 120
Combine Two 1° Antibodies from the Same Species with
Block-Between Method ....................................... 120
Experimental Design Chart for Block-Between Method ......... 122
Design the 2° Antibody Control for the Same Species
with Block-Between ......................................... 124
Final Procedure for Two 10 Antibody Same Species with
Block-Between .............................................. 127
(A) Prepare Cell Culture ................................ 127
(B) Fix Culture ......................................... 127
(C) Block and Permeabilize .............................. 127
(D) Rinse After Block and Permeabilize .................. 128
(E) Incubate First 1° Antibody .......................... 128
(F) Rinse After First 1° Antibody ....................... 128
(G) Incubate First 2° Antibody .......................... 128
(H) Rinse After First 2° Antibody ....................... 128
(I) Block Antibodies in First Set ....................... 128
(J) Incubate Second 1° Antibody ......................... 128
(K) Rinse After Second 1° Antibody ...................... 129
(L) Incubate Second 2° Antibody ......................... 129
(M) Rinse After Second 2° Antibody ...................... 129
(N) Mount Coverslip ..................................... 129
(0) Examine in Microscope ............................... 129
(P) Evaluate Results .................................... 129
Combine Two 1° Antibodies from the Same Species with
Zenon ...................................................... 130
Experimental Design Chart for the Same Species with Zenon .. 130
Design the Antibody Control for the Same Species with
Zenon ...................................................... 133
Final Procedure for Two 1° Antibody from the Same
Species with Zenon ......................................... 135
(A) Prepare Cell Culture ................................ 135
(B) Fix Culture ......................................... 135
(C) Block and Permeabilize .............................. 136
(D) Rinse after Block and Permeabilize .................. 136
(E) Prepare the Zenon Reagents .......................... 136
(F) Incubate with Labeled Antibody(ies) ................. 136
(G) Rinse After Antibody Incubation ..................... 136
(H) Fix with 4% Paraformaldehyde ........................ 136
(I) Rinse after Antibody Incubation ..................... 137
(J) Mount Coverslip ..................................... 137
(K) Examine in Microscope ............................... 137
(L) Evaluate Results .................................... 137
13 Fluorescent Microscopy and Imaging ......................... 139
Introduction ............................................... 139
Filter Sets in Fluorescence Microscopy ..................... 140
Fluorescent Bleed-Through .................................. 142
Fluorescence Quench and Photobleach ........................ 145
Image Parameters - Contrast and Pixel Saturation ........... 146
Ethics of Image Manipulation ............................... 148
Do ......................................................... 149
Do Not ..................................................... 149
14 Troubleshooting ............................................ 151
Introduction ............................................... 151
Procedural Errors .......................................... 152
Method of Troubleshooting .................................. 152
Case No. 1 .............................................. 153
Case No. 2 .............................................. 156
Case No. 3 .............................................. 158
Case No. 4 .............................................. 164
Case No. 5 .............................................. 167
Troubleshooting Unique to Multiple Primary Antibodies ...... 173
Bad Antibodies ............................................. 173
Bad 1° Antibodies .......................................... 173
Bad 2° Antibodies .......................................... 174
15 Electron Microscopic Immunocytochemistry ................... 175
Protocol - Pre-embedding Electron Microscopic
Immunocytochemistry ........................................ 175
Introduction ............................................... 175
Need for Electron Microscopic Immunocytochemistry .......... 176
Pre-embedding Electron Microscopic Immunocytochemistry ..... 178
Postembedding Electron Microscopic Immunocytochemistry ..... 181
Choice of a Method ......................................... 185
Advantages and Disadvantages ............................ 185
Protocol - Pre-embedding Electron Microscopic
Immunocytochemistry ........................................ 185
Solutions .................................................. I86
Stock Solutions to Make Ahead and Store ................. 186
Solutions Made on the First Day of the Experiment ....... 187
NPG Silver Enhancement Solution and Silver Lactate ...... 188
Test Strip .............................................. 189
Appendix ...................................................... 191
References .................................................... 199
Glossary ...................................................... 203
Index ......................................................... 213
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