Neurofilament Antibody Staining Protocol for Immunohistochemistry

 

Description: Neurofilaments are a type of intermediate filament that serve as major elements of the cytoskeleton supporting the axon cytoplasm. They are the most abundant fibrillar components of the axon, being on average 3-10 times more frequent than axonal microtubules. Neurofilaments (10nm in dia.) are built from three intertwined protofibrils which are themselves composed of two tetrameric protofilament complexs of monomeric proteins. The neurofilament triplet proteins (68/70, 160, and 200 kDa) occur in both the central and peripheral nervous system and are usually neuron specific. The 68/70 kDa NF-L protein can self-assemble into a filamentous structure, however the 160 kDa NF-M and 200 kDa NF-H proteins require the presence of the 68/70 kDa NF-L protein to co-assemble. Neuromas, ganglioneuromas, gangliogliomas, ganglioneuroblastomas and neuroblastomas stain positively for neurofilaments. Although typically restricted to neurons, neurofilaments have been detected in paragangliomas and adrenal and extra-adrenal pheochromocytomas. Carcinoids, neuroendocrine carcinomas of the skin, and oat cell carcinomas of the lung also express neurofilaments.

 

Primary Antibody

Name: Neurofilament H (200 kDa) (Lysine-serine-proline repeat) Antibody

Clone: Rabbit polyclonal

Supplier: Chemicon

Catalog Number: AB1991

Dilution: 1:1000 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: Cytoplasmic
Images: Search image

Additional Information:
Species Reactivity: Human, mouse, rat, cow, pig, chicken, reptiliant
Fixation: Formalin fixed paraffin sections
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

 

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