The immunohistochemical demonstration of noradrenergic neurons in the rat brain: The use of homologous antiserum to dopamine-beta-hydroxylase.

The immunohistochemical localization of dopamine-beta-hydroxylase (DBH) in central noradrenergic neurons of the rat is greatly improved by the use of homologous antiserum (i.e. antibody against purified rat DBH). This antiserum, which has a several thousand-fold greater affinity for rat DBH than does heterologous antibody, is used at a 1:500 dilution with low concentrations of detergent. This method applied to paraformaldehyde-perfused tissue consistently yields highly sensitive and selective staining with excellent cytologic preservation of fine neuronal processes.