Introduction of a Novel HRP Substrate-Nanogold Probe for Signal Amplification in Immunocytochemistry

• Published in: The journal of histochemistry and cytochemistry Vol. 48; no. 4; pp. 461 - 469
• Main Authors: Mayer, Gaetan, Leone, Robert D, Hainfeld, James F, Bendayan, Moise
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Los Angeles, CA Histochemical Soc 01.04.2000; SAGE Publications
• Subjects: Animals; Antigen-Antibody Complex - metabolism; Gold; Horseradish Peroxidase; Immunohistochemistry - methods; Insulin - immunology; Microscopy, Electron; Organometallic Compounds; Pancreas - metabolism; Particle Size; Rats; Sensitivity and Specificity; Silver; immunodot assay; immunocytochemistry; Nanogold; silver enhancement; CARD
• ISSN: 0022-1554; 1551-5044
• DOI: 10.1177/002215540004800403

Amplification of immunological signals with catalyzed reporter deposition (CARD) allows improved detection of scarce tissue antigens in light and electron microscopy. The technique takes advantage of the oxidation ability of horseradish peroxidase (HRP), in the presence of hydrogen peroxide, to yield the accumulation of one of its specific reporter-tagged substrates. This immunocytochemical approach continues to be improved by the introduction of new reporter molecules tagged to tyramine or to other HRP substrates. In this study we introduced a novel HRP substrate tagged to Nanogold particles. The amplification protocol is based on the application of a specific primary antibody, a biotinylated secondary antibody, streptavidin-HRP, and an HRP substrate coupled to Nanogold, followed by silver intensification. In addition to amplification of immunological signals of high resolution, direct accumulation of Nanogold particles at target sites by enzymatic activity of HRP improves the efficiency of the technique compared to other amplification protocols. Moreover, this approach combines the CARD amplification potentials with the ultrasmall gold probe and the silver intensification method. Immunolabeling obtained by light and electron microscopy, as well as immunodot assay using this new amplification strategy, appear to be highly sensitive, specific, and of enhanced intensity.