THE TYPE OF CHEMICAL FIXATIVE AFFECTS THE IMMUNOHISTOCHEMICAL LOCALIZATION OF TRANSFORMING-GROWTH-FACTOR ALPHA IN RAT COLON CRYPTS

The effects of the different fixation agents, Omnifix, 10% neutral-buf fered formalin, 70% ethanol, acetone, 10% neutral-buffered formalin, f or 2 h followed by 70% ethanol for 10 h or 40% paraformaldehyde on the immunohistochemical localization of transforming growth factor a in r at colon crypts were studied. Segments of rat descending colon were fi xed and then processed for immunohistochemistry using a monoclonal ant ibody to the growth factor. The results showed that the pattern of tra nsforming growth factor a staining in the colonic crypts differed and was distinct for each fixative. (C) 1998 Chapman & Hall.