Effects of time and temperature during attachment of sections to microscope slides on immunohistochemical detection of antigens

To study the effects of time and temperature on attachment of tissue sectio ns to microscope slides, we examined the intensity of immunohistochemical s taining of selected antigens in nine different neoplastic and normal tissue s after attaching sections at different times and temperatures. Typically, both the temperature and time are minimized when tissue sections attached t o slides; however, suboptimal times and temperatures during attachment may result in either loss of tissue due to poor attachment or the necessity for inconvenient staining regimens. Using standard immunohistochemical techniq ues, 5 mum tissue sections were attached at 58 degreesC for 1, 4 and 24 hr. In a separate study, 5 mum tissue sections were attached for 16 hr at 58, 68 and 80 degreesC. The intensity of staining decreased slightly when the t issue sections were heated at 80 degreesC for 16 hr, but there was little o r no decrease when tissues were heated at 68 degreesC or lower for 16 hr, o r at 58 degreesC for up to 24 hr.