A comparison of microwave heating and proteolytic pretreatment antigen retrieval techniques in formation fixed, paraffin embedded tissues
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Date
2003-04
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Publisher
Taylor and Francis
Abstract
Antigen retrieval (AR) is a technique that re-exposes epitopes in formalin fixed, paraffin embedded sections and makes them detectable by immunohistochemistry. We compared the effects of two AR procedures, enzyme digestion and microwave heating, on immunostaining of vimentin and desmin in formalin fixed, paraffin embedded tissues. Our results showed that AR is necessary for vimentin and desmin immunostaining in tissues fixed in formalin for more than 48 h. With prolonged fixation times, microwave heating showed better results than enzyme digestion for AR. The same results were obtained using 1% zinc sulfate or Citra Plus solution as retrieval solutions for microwave heating. We recommend microwave heating for AR, because it is easier to use and produces better results compared to enzyme treatment.
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Keywords
Biotechnology and applied microbiology, Cell biology, Animalia, Antigen retrieval, Formalin fixation, Microwave heating, Paraffin sections, Formaldehyde fixation, Formalin, Sections, Oven, Immunohistochemistry, PH, Impregnation, Antibodies, Keratins
Citation
Kahveci, Z. vd. (2003). “A comparison of microwave heating and proteolytic pretreatment antigen retrieval techniques in formation fixed, paraffin embedded tissues”. Biotechnic and Histochemistry, 78(2), 119-128.