NeuN Antibody Staining Protocol for Immunohistochemistry

 

Description: NeuN (or Neuronal Nuclei) reacts with most neuronal cell types throughout the nervous system of mice including cerebellum, cerebral cortex, hippocampus, thalamus, spinal cord and neurons in the peripheral nervous system including dorsal root ganglia, sympathetic chain ganglia and enteric ganglia. Developmentally, immunoreactivity is first observed shortly after neurons have become postmitotic, no staining has been observed in proliferative zones. The immunohistochemical staining is primarily localized in the nucleus of the neurons with lighter staining in the cytoplasm. The few cell types not reactive with MAB377 include Purkinje, mitral and photoreceptor cells. The antibody is also an excellent marker for neurons in primary cultures and in retinoic acid-stimulated P19 cells as well as for identifying neurons in transplants.

 

Primary Antibody

Name: NeuN Antibody

Clone: Mouse monoclonal

Supplier: Chemicon

Catalog Number: MAB377

Dilution: 1:600 using IHC-TekTM Antibody Diluent (Cat# IW-1000 or IW-1001) to reduce background and unspecific staining and serum blocking step is NOT needed.

Incubation Time/Temp: 60 min/room temperature


Antigen Retrieval
Device: IHC-TekTM Epitope Retrieval Steamer Set (Cat# IW-1102)
Buffer/pH value: IHC-TekTM Epitope Retrieval Solution (Cat# IW-1100)
Heat/Cool Temperature: 95-100 ºC/room temperature
Heat/Cool Time: 20 minutes/20 minutes

Detection Methods
Standard Method: ABC Method or LSAB Method
Enhanced Method: Polymeric Methods

Chromogen Substrate
Reagent: DAB
Incubation Time/Temperature: 1-3 minutes/room temperature

Counterstain
Reagent: Mayer's Hematoxylin
Staining Time: 30 seconds

Results:
Staining Pattern: Nuclear/cytoplasmic (primarily in nuclei with lighter staining in the cytoplasm)
Images: Search image

Additional Information:
Species Reactivity: Human, mouse, rat, ferret, chick, salamander
Fixation: Formalin fixed paraffin sections. For staining of cultured cells, permeablizing with Triton X-100  is needed and lower dilution (1:100) is required.
Positive Control: Brain
Negative Control: Omit primary antibody, isotype control, absorption control
Blocking: 2-5% normal serum to reduce unspecific background staining; 0.5-3% H2O2 to block endogenous peroxidase activity; avidin/biotin to block endogenous biotin activity if necessary

 

References: