Dehydration and embedding temperatures affect the antigenic specificity of tubulin and immunolabeling by the protein A-colloidal gold technique.

Qualitative and quantitative tests were performed to determine whether the temperature at which dehydration and embedding occur affects the antigenic specificity of tubulin and the protein A-gold (pAg) immunolabeling technique. The analysis indicates that low temperature (-35 degrees C) treatment increased the specificity and density of pAg labeled anti-tubulin antibodies to Leishmania tropica subpellicular microtubules as compared to samples prepared at 0 degrees C or 20 degrees C.