Immunogold silver staining for light microscopy.

The immunogold silver staining method (IGSS) is widely used as a sensitive and specific immunohistochemical visualisation technique. IGSS involves the specific deposition of metallic silver at the site of immunogold labelling and provides a means of visualisation at low magnification by light or electron microscopy. Silver developers for IGSS rapidly deposit metallic silver only at the site of heavy metals, including gold and silver, because of their catalytic activity. The developing solution contains the silver ions and reducing agent necessary for this reaction. Using different silver salts as ion donors and by selecting an appropriate temperature and pH, visible amounts of silver can be deposited in a few minutes at the site of colloidal gold labelling while little non-specific background deposition occurs. Inclusion of protective colloids in the solution can also be used to control the reaction. Although studies of the chemical basis of silver deposition around unlabelled colloidal gold date back to 1939, immunogold enhancement by silver was established in 1983. The IGSS method evolved from the combination of disparate photographic, histochemical and immunogold techniques which have been effectively combined and optimised over the last 10 years to provide a visualisation system which is well suited to many immunohistochemical studies.