Immunocytochemistry sites

Cellular autoradiography techniques using radioactive nucleic acid probes have several features in common with nucleic acid immunocytochemistry. The method is based on the hybridization of radioactive probes to cellular targets and the subsequent exposure of photographic emulsion, which, when developed, reveals blackened (exposed) silver grains close to the site of hybridiza-hon. Hence, cellular autoradiography techniques permit excellent specihcity and localizahon of the hybridized probe—to 1 qm when tritium is the label used in the autoradiography-based method (9). 

Immunocytochemistry can be a valuable tool for the determination of cellular contents from individual cell suspensions. Samples which can be analyzed include blood smears, aspirates, and swabs from any cellular site. Each sample is treated differently and yet all the methods are interchangeable. There is no one way to prepare these types of cell samples for immunocytochemical analysis. This chapter will deal with the most common forms of cell sample the swab, aspirate, smear, and touch preps. Blood can be analyzed as a smear but it presents more of a problem owing to the concentration of red blood cells. These cells have an oxidative type function and when using a peroxidase based detection system it can greatly interfere with the test. Concentrated cellular suspensions... 

To explore the possibility that only a subpopulation of liver cells has the enzyme immunocytochemistry, an individual study is performed. Results could show one of several patterns of distribution for the enzyme. The enzyme could be found in one cell type in the liver (Fig. 1.1c). But more realistic scenario is that the enzyme is found only in few cells of a specific cell type due to local injury (Fig. l.ld). If injury is causing the enzyme activity, then most likely that expression of the enzyme will be seen in several cell types near the injury site (Fig. Lie). Thus, immunocytochemistry gives us valuable information about the location and number of cells expressing the enzyme. The important point here is that biochemical and immunocytochemistry data are complementary neither can replace the other. 

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