Preembedding immuno-staining of specimens for electron microscopy

Wolf D. Kuhlmann

Division of Radiooncology, Deutsches Krebsforschungszentrum, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany

Laboratory Diagnostics & Cell Science, 56112 Lahnstein, Germany

Localization of intracellular antigens by labeled antibodies is governed by their penetrability. Ezymatic predigestion of cell surface material can improve penetration but the total number of stained cells may remain low. No convincing results were obtained with hand-cut tissue fragments. Best results were obtained with thick frozen sections from well-fixed specimens. The adoption of cryomicrotomy to preembedment immunohistology is decribed.