Retrieval of leukocyte antigens in paraffin-embedded rat tissues.

We compared the immunohistochemical reactivity of various rat leukocyte antigens in frozen and paraffin-embedded thymus, spleen, abdominal lymph node, liver, and brain tissues of healthy Sprague-Dawley rats, fixed in various fixatives. Immune reactivity after fixation in Methacarn was superior to that of 4% neutral buffered formalin, a mercury-based fixative (B-5), or Carnoy. Microwave (MW) antigen retrieval (AR) enhanced antigen reactivity. Ten of the 11 leukocyte antigens studied could be retrieved in Methacarn-fixed, paraffin-embedded sections with a reactivity comparable to that obtained on frozen sections.