Radio frequency glow discharge and solid-phase lactoperoxidase-glucose oxidase beads as methods for etching ultra-thin plastic sections for immunoelectron microscopy

Abstract

Etching technique to prepare ultra-thin sections for immunolectron microscopy have incorporated a variety of reagents to expose antigenic sites. In this paper involving 2 techniques for surface etching prior to immunoelectron microscopy, radio frequency glow discharge (RFGD) and solid-phase lactoperoxidase-glucose oxidase beads (Enzymobeads) are compared to conventional peroxide etching techniques. Measuring such parameters as intensity of granule disposition and titers antibody resulting in detectable staining, RFGD and Enzymobeads were both superior to the conventional peroxide methodology. Non-specific absorption by ferritin under the conditions utilized was not a problem with Enzymobeads or RFGD method. In addition, RFGD may be useful in situations where peroxide susceptible antigens are under study.