Sudan Black B treatment reduces autofluorescence and improves resolution of in situ hybridization specific fluorescent signals of brain sections

Histol Histopathol. 2010 Aug;25(8):1017-24. doi: 10.14670/HH-25.1017.

Abstract

Interference by autofluorescence is one of the major concerns of immunofluorescence analysis of in situ hybridization-based diagnostic assays. We present a useful technique that reduces autofluorescent background without affecting the tissue integrity or direct immunofluorescence signals in brain sections. Using six different protocols, such as ammonia/ethanol, Sudan Black B (SBB) in 70% ethanol, photobleaching with UV light and different combinations of them in both formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded and frozen human brain tissue sections, we have found that tissue treatment of SBB in a concentration of 0.1% in 70% ethanol is the best approach to reduce/eliminate tissue autofluorescence and background, while preserving the specific fluorescence hybridization signals. This strategy is a feasible, non-time consuming method that provides a reasonable compromise between total reduction of the tissue autofluorescence and maintenance of specific fluorescent labels.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Ammonia
  • Azo Compounds
  • Brain
  • Coloring Agents / pharmacology*
  • Fluorescence
  • Fluorescent Antibody Technique
  • Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Direct
  • Formaldehyde
  • Frozen Sections
  • Histocytological Preparation Techniques / methods*
  • Histological Techniques
  • Humans
  • Indicators and Reagents
  • Naphthalenes
  • Nucleic Acid Hybridization
  • Paraffin Embedding
  • Photobleaching

Substances

  • Azo Compounds
  • Coloring Agents
  • Indicators and Reagents
  • Naphthalenes
  • Formaldehyde
  • Ammonia
  • Sudan Black B