Citrate Buffer Antigen Retrieval Protocol
Background: Formaldehyde fixation (2% or 4%, or as a component of 10% formalin) produces protein cross-links in tissues that tends to interfere with antibody penetration. This seems to be particularly true of paraffin- embedded formaldehyde-fixed tissue. Since chicken IgY antibodies are larger than rabbit or mouse IgG's, "extra steps" may be necessary to compensate for their larger size.
The citrate-based "antigen retrieval" protocol outlined below has been shown to improve chicken IgY antibody penetration into 4% formalde- hyde-fixed paraffin-embedded sections, and can increase the degree and intensity of immunoreactivity and immunostaining.
Reagents (NOTE: You can use either the Sodium Citrate or Citric Acid Buffers in step #3, below)
"Sodium Citrate Buffer" (10mM Sodium Citrate, 0.05% Tween 20, pH 6.0)
Weigh out 2.94 grams of trisodium citrate (dihydrate). Dissolve in approximately 900 mls of deionized, distilled water. Adjust the pH to 6.00 with 1.0 N HCl. Add
0.5 ml of Tween-20. Mix. Bring up the volume to 1.0 litres with water. Store this solution at room temperature for 3 months or at 4C for longer periods.
"Citric Acid Buffer" (10mM Citric Acid, 0.05% Tween 20, pH 6.0)
Weigh out 1.92 grams of citric acid (anhydrous). Dissolve in approximately 900 mls of deionized, distilled water. Adjust the pH to 6.0 with 1.0 N NaOH. Add
0.5 ml of Tween-20. Mix. Bring up the volume to 1.0 litres with water. Store this solution at room temperature for 3 months or at 4C for longer periods.
"Phosphate-Buffered Saline" [PBS, 10 mM Sodium phosphate-buffered (pH 7.2) isotonic (0.9%, w/v) saline solution] PBS Tween (0.05% Tween 20 in PBS)
Ethanol (80%, 90%, 95%, 100%) diluted with water.
Xylene
Procedure (for use with paraffin-embedded sections):
1 Deparaffinize tissue sections in 2 changes of xylene (5 minutes each).
2. Hydrate in 2 changes of 100% ethanol (3 minutes each), 95% ethanol (1 minute), 90% ethanol (1 minute), 80% ethanol (1 minute). Rinse in distilled water.
3. Pre-heat steamer or water bath with staining dish containing either Sodium Citrate Buffer or Citrate Buffer. Wait until temperature reaches 95-100 degrees C.
NOTE: Microwave or pressure cooker can be used as an alternative as a heating source.
4. Immerse slides in the staining dish. Place the lid loosely on the staining dish and incubate for 20-40 minutes (optimal incubation times will vary).
5. Remove the staining dish, and allow it to cool to room temperature (for 20 minutes or so).
6. Rinse sections in PBS Tween twice for 2 minutes each time.
NOTE: The remainder of this protocol is meant to be a suggestion, and can be substituted with your regular immunostaining protocol.
7. Block sections for 30 minutes with Blocking buffer diluted 1:10 with water.
8. Incubate sections with primary antibody at appropriate dilution in antibody dilution buffer overnight at 4 degrees C. Since chicken IgY antibodies are larger than mammalian IgG's, this overnight incubation allows more time for antibody penetration into tissue sections.
9. Rinse sections with PBS Tween 20 twice for 5 minutes each time.
10. Incubate sections with labeled secondary antibody (see NOTE, below) at appropriate dilution (for one hour at room temperature) in a 1:100 dilution of blocking buffer (diluted in PBS).
11. Rinse with PBS Tween 20 for three times for 5 minutes each time.
NOTE: This protocol may use HRP- or fluorescently-labeled secondary antibodies produced in goats or rabbits.
