A Quick, Economical and Gentle Method for Applying Small Volumes of Solutions to Specimens on Glass Slides

Extract

I use immunocytochemical detection schemes that employ the use of primary and secondary antibodies for either tissue sections or whole mount preparations in order to study the in situ distribution of proteins and labeled nucleic acids. As the antibodies are either laboriously generated, or represent costly purchases. I have sought a protocol that minimizes the volume of antibody solution needed. Additionally I need a protocol that involves a quick, thorough, and gentle application and removal of the antibody solutions (mm the specimen with no danger of the specimen drying out during the one or two hour incubations. After trying many various schemes 1 have settled into the use of a procedure which very effectively retains the antibody solution on the specimen without damaging the delicate sections or whole mounts, and which is easy to add and remove.