Biomaterial Database

Quantitative and morphological aspects of Unicryl versus Lowicryl K4M embedding in immunoelectron microscopic studies. 1996

J J Bogers, and H A Nibbeling, and A M Deelder, and E A van Marck

Laboratory of Pathology, University of Antwerp (UIA), Belgium.

In this study we compared the recently commercialized electron microscopy embedding resin Unicryl with the well-known resin Lowicryl K4M with regard to morphological and immunohistochemical preservation properties. The standard embedding procedure recommended by the manufacturer for the use of Unicryl resulted in considerable morphological alterations of the tissue, with the appearance of large gaps in and between the cells of the examined tissue. Morphometric analysis pointed to a swelling of the extracellular matrix as the main cause of these morphological artifacts. A slight modification in the protocol to correct this artifact is proposed and tested. Immunohistochemically, tissue embedded in Unicryl resulted in a significantly stronger immunogold labeling than identical tissue embedded in Lowicryl K4M. From the results of this technical study, it can be concluded that Unicryl embedding is a valuable new tool to supplement the available techniques for immunoelectron microscopic studies.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007150	Immunohistochemistry	Histochemical localization of immunoreactive substances using labeled antibodies as reagents.	Immunocytochemistry,Immunogold Techniques,Immunogold-Silver Techniques,Immunohistocytochemistry,Immunolabeling Techniques,Immunogold Technics,Immunogold-Silver Technics,Immunolabeling Technics,Immunogold Silver Technics,Immunogold Silver Techniques,Immunogold Technic,Immunogold Technique,Immunogold-Silver Technic,Immunogold-Silver Technique,Immunolabeling Technic,Immunolabeling Technique,Technic, Immunogold,Technic, Immunogold-Silver,Technic, Immunolabeling,Technics, Immunogold,Technics, Immunogold-Silver,Technics, Immunolabeling,Technique, Immunogold,Technique, Immunogold-Silver,Technique, Immunolabeling,Techniques, Immunogold,Techniques, Immunogold-Silver,Techniques, Immunolabeling
D004396	Coloring Agents	Chemicals and substances that impart color including soluble dyes and insoluble pigments. They are used in INKS; PAINTS; and as INDICATORS AND REAGENTS.	Coloring Agent,Dye,Dyes,Organic Pigment,Stain,Stains,Tissue Stain,Tissue Stains,Organic Pigments,Pigments, Inorganic,Agent, Coloring,Inorganic Pigments,Pigment, Organic,Pigments, Organic,Stain, Tissue,Stains, Tissue
D006224	Cricetinae	A subfamily in the family MURIDAE, comprising the hamsters. Four of the more common genera are Cricetus, CRICETULUS; MESOCRICETUS; and PHODOPUS.	Cricetus,Hamsters,Hamster
D000180	Acrylic Resins	Polymers of high molecular weight which are derived from acrylic acid, methacrylic acid or other related compounds and are capable of being molded and then hardened to form useful components.	Acrylic Resin,Resin, Acrylic,Resins, Acrylic
D000818	Animals	Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA.	Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D012555	Schistosomiasis mansoni	Schistosomiasis caused by Schistosoma mansoni. It is endemic in Africa, the Middle East, South America, and the Caribbean and affects mainly the bowel, spleen, and liver.	Schistosomiasis, Intestinal,Schistosoma mansoni Infection,Infection, Schistosoma mansoni,Infections, Schistosoma mansoni,Intestinal Schistosomiases,Intestinal Schistosomiasis,Schistosoma mansoni Infections,Schistosomiases, Intestinal
D013997	Time Factors	Elements of limited time intervals, contributing to particular results or situations.	Time Series,Factor, Time,Time Factor
D016253	Microscopy, Immunoelectron	Microscopy in which the samples are first stained immunocytochemically and then examined using an electron microscope. Immunoelectron microscopy is used extensively in diagnostic virology as part of very sensitive immunoassays.	Immunoelectron Microscopy,Microscopy, Immuno-Electron,Immuno-Electron Microscopies,Immuno-Electron Microscopy,Immunoelectron Microscopies,Microscopies, Immuno-Electron,Microscopies, Immunoelectron,Microscopy, Immuno Electron
D016610	Tissue Embedding	The technique of placing cells or tissue in a supporting medium so that thin sections can be cut using a microtome. The medium can be paraffin wax (PARAFFIN EMBEDDING) or plastics (PLASTIC EMBEDDING) such as epoxy resins.	Embedding, Tissue
D051379	Mice	The common name for the genus Mus.	Mice, House,Mus,Mus musculus,Mice, Laboratory,Mouse,Mouse, House,Mouse, Laboratory,Mouse, Swiss,Mus domesticus,Mus musculus domesticus,Swiss Mice,House Mice,House Mouse,Laboratory Mice,Laboratory Mouse,Mice, Swiss,Swiss Mouse,domesticus, Mus musculus