Immunogold Staining of Epoxy Resin Sections for Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM).

INTRODUCTIONIn post-embedding methods of immunogold staining, the cells or tissues are fixed chemically or cryoimmobilized, dehydrated, and embedded in epoxy or acrylic resins. Thin sections (50-70 nm in thickness) are cut using an ultramicrotome with a diamond knife, using a water bath to collect the sections as they slide off the knife. The sections are stretched with solvent vapor or a heat source and collected onto either bare or plastic-coated nickel grids. The sections are then stained immunochemically with primary antibodies raised against antigens exposed on the surface of the sections. The primary antibodies are visualized by staining immunochemically with secondary antibodies raised against the species and isotype of the primary antibodies, conjugated to colloidal gold particles. The immunochemically stained sections are then contrast stained with salts of uranium (uranyl acetate) and lead (lead citrate) to reveal the ultrastructure of the cells, and are finally viewed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Chemical fixation and embedding in a highly cross-linked epoxy resin is the method of choice for optimal ultrastructure and stability of the thin section in the electron beam. Immunogold staining of thin epoxy resin sections, described here, is useful if the antigen of interest is very resistant to fixative, or if only archived material that was fixed primarily for ultrastructural studies is available.