Immunocytochemistry provides unique information concerning the spatial and temporal distribution of biomolecules in cells and tissues. While techniques associated with immunocytochemical labeling are well developed, there are always improvements that can be achieved. In this abstract, a modification to immunocytochemical methodology that increases the labeling efficiency for certain antigens is described. This modification includes incubation of the sample with sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) prior to application of the primary antibody.
Tubulin in microtubules of human neutrophils has been extremely difficult to analyze with antibodies to α-tubulin or β-tubulin using immunocytochemical methods. Using an immunofluorescence assay, we have analyzed several preparative procedures in order to improve the labeling efficiency of these microtubules using anti-tubulin antibodies. We find that treatment of chemically fixed neutrophils with the chaotropic agent SDS improves labeling efficiency for neutrophil microtubules in the immunofluorescence assay.