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Monoclonal antibodies to human germ cell tumors from "routine" paraffin-embedded pathological specimens.

We have established a method for monoclonal antibody (MoAb) preparation from routine paraffin-embedded tissue of human seminoma as an immunogen. Three 40-microns thick sections were deparaffinized and rehydrated. An eight-week-old BALB/c mouse was immunized intraperitoneally with this extract, which showed no detectable protein bands on sodium laurylsulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). Five monoclonal antibodies (MoAbs) with different characteristics were obtained; one reacted with the nucleus, two with the cytoplasm, and two with the cytoplasmic membrane. One of the MoAbs 5G9 reacted with spermatogonia in normal human tissues and with seminoma, embryonal carcinoma and choriocarcinoma in the testicular tumors.

Animals↗

New sensitive light microscopical detection of colloidal gold on ultrathin sections by reflection contrast microscopy. Combination of reflection contrast and electron microscopy in post-embedding immunogold histochemistry.

One simple post-embedding method for combined light- and electron microscopy is presented. Different types of antigens in normal rat and mouse kidneys as well as in tissues from cases of experimental induced nephritis were stained after Lowicryl K4M embedding by an immunogold (silver) method. The (silver-enhanced) gold particles were visualized by light microscopy, e.g. bright-field (BFM)- and reflection contrast (RCM) microscopy, as well as by electron microscopy. The potentials of RCM visualization in this field were investigated, resulting in the successful detection of colloidal gold (15 nm) particles, or silver enhanced gold particles, on ultrathin sections. Furthermore, an increased detection sensitivity of RCM compared with BFM together with an increase in the sensitivity of the immunostaining by RCM visualization was found. The different ways to use RCM, alone or in combination with bright-field- or phase contrast microscopy for visualization of plastic sections varying in thickness, type of plastic and staining, are discussed.

Animals↗

Localization of surfactant protein A (SP-A) in alveolar macrophage subpopulations of normal and fibrotic rat lung.

The colocalization of surfactant protein A (SP-A) and the alveolar macrophage markers ED1 and RM-1, as well as various lectins of the N-acetyl-galactosamine group [Maclura pomifera lectin (MPA), Dolichos biflorus lectin (DBA), soybean agglutinin (SBA)] and of the mannose group [Canavalia ensiformis lectin (ConA), Galanthus nivalis lectin (GNA)] was studied in normal and fibrotic rat lung tissues. In normal tissue, SP-A was located preferentially in the alveolar macrophage subpopulation lacking specific binding sites for lectins of the N-acetylgalactosamine group (DBA and SBA), although 50% of MPA-binding macrophages contained SP-A. The ED1-positive cells were SP-A-negative, whereas SP-A uptake could be detected among the RM-1 immunoreactive as well as the ConA and GNA binding macrophages. In fibrotic lung tissue, however, a small number of DBA and SBA binding macrophages contained SP-A and the percentage of GNA and ConA binding alveolar macrophages exhibiting SP-A immunoreactivity was reduced. Additionally, the number of ED1+/SP-A+ macrophages was found to be increased. Immunoelectron microscopy revealed accumulation of SP-A in the extracellular space. The differing SP-A content in different alveolar macrophage subpopulations suggests a more complex mechanism of uptake and degradation of surfactant proteins in normal and pathological conditions, which cannot simply be explained by the glycoconjugate pattern on the surface of alveolar macrophages.

Animals↗

Improved methodology for detecting bromodeoxyuridine in cultured cells and tissue sections by immunocytochemistry.

Detection of DNA synthesizing cells may often be achieved by immunocytochemical detection of bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU), which is rapid and appears to give similar results to those found using tritiated thymidine. However, the methodology for detection of BrdU involves a denaturation or digestion step to allow access of the antibody to BrdU incorporated into single- rather than double-stranded DNA. We wished to determine if microwave treatment could be used to enhance the detection of BrdU without the need for any other digestion/denaturation steps. An important consideration was to investigate whether such treatment produces a similar quantitative result, since BrdU detection is usually assessed on the basis of cell number rather than topographical distribution. We have found that microwave treatment can allow considerably lower antibody concentrations and eliminates the need for any other denaturation step. It also reduces the non-specific background staining found when using monoclonal antibodies on mouse tissue. We have performed cell counts and found that the number of BrdU positive cells remains constant for a range of different immunocytochemical parameters. We also report conditions where immunopositivity is adversely affected by changes in technique and describe the optimised conditions for obtaining reproducible results.

Animals↗

Use of Phaseolus vulgaris leukoagglutinating lectin in histochemical and blotting techniques: a comparison of digoxigenin- and biotin-labelled lectins.

An increase in the number of beta 1,6 branches of the trimannosyl core of asparagine-linked oligosaccharides has been shown to be directly correlated with the metastatic potential of cultured tumour cells. The Phaseolus vulgaris leukoagglutinating lectin (PHA-L) binds to beta 1,6 branches of tri- and tetra-antennary oligosaccharides. We have applied digoxigenin- and biotin-conjugated PHA-L to establish a non-radioactive detection system for beta 1,6 branches, which can be used in lectin blotting as well as light and electron microscopic cytochemistry. For this purpose the HCT116 human colon carcinoma cell line and colon carcinoma tissue were investigated. Digoxigenin-conjugated PHA-L in conjunction with alkaline phosphatase-conjugated anti-digoxigenin antibodies was superior to biotin-conjugated PHA-L in lectin blotting with respect to sensitivity and specificity. Similarly, the digoxigenin conjugated PHA-L in conjunction with gold-labelled anti-digoxigenin antibodies resulted in more intense specific staining and lower background compared to biotin-conjugated PHA-L visualized with a streptavidin immunogold complex. The specificity of lectin binding in blotting and cytochemical studies was demonstrated by the absence of staining when the lectin was omitted or preabsorbed with glycoprotein, and following pretreatment of the cellular homogenates or tissue sections by N-glycosidase F. Our results demonstrate that digoxigenin-conjugated PHA-L provides high sensitivity and specificity for histochemical and blotting techniques and is amenable for quantification. The technique should have applications in tumour research.

Biotin↗

Adaptation of a non-radioactive in situ hybridization method to electron microscopy: detection of tenascin mRNAs in mouse cerebellum with digoxigenin-labelled probes and gold-labelled antibodies.

In this study we describe a method for the detection of mRNAs at the ultrastructural level using a non-radioactive in situ hybridization method based on digoxigenin-labelled cRNA probes and gold-labelled digoxigenin-specific antibodies. We applied this protocol to an analysis of the expression of the extracellular matrix protein tenascin in the developing cerebellar cortex of the mouse. To gain an impression of the sensitivity attainable with digoxigenin-labelled probes, we first established at the light microscopic level that the hybridization signal obtained with the non-radioactive probe is as sensitive as that obtained with a 35S-labelled probe. The non-radioactive hybridization protocol was then combined with electron microscopic post-embedding and immunogold detection techniques. Tenascin-specific, digoxigenin-labelled cRNA probes were hybridized to ultrathin sections of Lowicryl K4M-embedded tissue and the probe/target mRNA hybrids were detected using gold-labelled antibodies to digoxigenin. In agreement with the observations from in situ hybridization at the light microscopic level, specific labelling was observed in Golgi epithelial cells in the region of the Purkinje cell layer and cells in the internal granular layer, which could be identified as astrocytes by ultrastructural criteria. Labelling was detectable in association with free ribosomes and ribosomes of the rough endoplasmic reticulum. In addition, focal hybridization signals were occasionally found in the nucleus. No signal was observed in Golgi epithelial cells or astrocytes using sense or in any other cerebellar cell type using either sense or anti-sense probes. The described in situ hybridization technique uses ultrastructural criteria to associate the presence of a given mRNA species with a particular cell type. Additionally, it provides information about the target mRNA's subcellular distribution, thus offering the possibility to study intracellular transport of particular mRNAs.

Acrylic Resins↗

Retention of glycogen in cryosubstituted mouse liver.

A periodic acid-Schiff (PAS)-type reaction in which osmium-ammine was used as the reagent was carried out on ultrathin sections of mouse liver in order to study the extent to which glycogen is preserved. Comparisons were made between tissues that were, on the one hand, conventionally fixed and dehydrated and, on the other, those that were high-pressure frozen and cryosubstituted in acetone. A control was carried out for both groups using a routine uranyl acetate-lead citrate staining procedure. In the latter case, glycogen could be identified as electron-clear patches in the cytoplasm whereas after a PAS-type reaction, glycogen became darkly contrasted. In the case of conventionally fixed samples, glycogen appeared to display a certain amount of clumping separated by gaps whereas in cryosubstituted specimens it was denser and often showed elongated interconnecting structures. These results suggest that cryofixation and cryosubstitution provide better preservation of glycogen in mouse liver tissue compared with chemically fixed specimens. In addition, the fine structure of glycogen appears more homogeneous, showing less aggregation in cryo-treated liver samples.

Animals↗

Improved in situ beta-galactosidase staining for histological analysis of transgenic mice.

The present study describes a novel method for the histochemical demonstration of beta-galactosidase activity on tissue sections. We have replaced 5-bromo-4-chloro-3-indolyl-beta-D-galactoside (X-Gal) with 5-bromo-indolyl-beta-o-galactopyranoside (Bluo-Gal) as a chromogenic substrate for the bacterial beta-galactosidase (lacZ). After beta-galactosidic cleavage, Bluo-Gal precipitates in form of fine birefringent crystals, whereas X-gal gives rise to an amorphous precipitate. Upon microscopic examination under polarized light, the crystals emit a strong signal consisting of yellow reflected light. This property of Bluo-Gal results in greatly enhanced sensitivity of the staining method for beta-galactosidase and allows for optimal morphological resolution. To exemplify the applications of this technique, the expression is demonstrated in transgenic mice of beta-galactosidase driven by a fragment of the human tissue-type plasminogen activator promoter.

Animals↗

Lectin staining of sheep microglia.

The B4-isolectin from Griffonia simplicifolia is known to stain microglial cells in a variety of species. The present report describes a lectin staining method that has been modified to facilitate staining of resting microglia, as well as perivascular cells, in vibratome sections of normal sheep brain. This modified method employs tissue fixed in formaldehyde or paraformaldehyde and requires incubating sections with Triton X-100 prior to staining.

Animals↗

Reflection contrast microscopy of ultrathin sections in immunocytochemical localization studies: a versatile technique bridging electron microscopy with light microscopy.

Reflection contrast microscopy (RCM) of ultrathin sections was recently introduced as a sensitive technique for visualization with enhanced definition in immunogold histochemistry. Experience of using RCM as a major tool in immunocytochemical research in different fields is summarized, e.g. oncology, nephrology and embryology. The sensitive visualization of immunocytochemical labels, gold particles or peroxidase-diaminobenzidine deposits in or on ultrathin sections, by RCM instead of electron microscopy is demonstrated. RCM of ultrathin sections is an adequate light microscopical alternative for immunoelectron microscopy, since an overview of both label and tissue is obtained with a high image definition and high contrast of label. In the studies presented, RCM is shown to provide a better gradation in staining intensity and staining pattern than other light microscopical methods. Moreover, a precise localization of multiple labels is obtained with this method. Besides the applications shown, ultrathin section visualization by RCM is very useful for correlative light- and electron microscopical studies of fine structures. Commercially available fluorescence microscopes can be adapted for proper RCM functioning; an adaptation scheme and list of microscopes tested is provided.

Animals↗