Immunocytochemical detection of tissue antigens after prolonged storage of specimens in methylsalicylate.

The aim of the present work was to verify the possibility of detecting various tissue antigens using standard immunocytochemical methods in paraffin sections of specimens stored in methylsalicylate for two years and longer before embedding in paraffin. Using the immunocytochemical reaction for the intermediate filament proteins nestin, vimentin, and GFAP, the neuron marker NeuN, neuron-specific enolase, and doublecortin as examples, these experiments showed that prolonged storage of dehydrated specimens in methylsalicylate does not prevent detection of antigens using immunocytochemical reactions.