Effects of fixatives on the antigenicity ofBrassica S-locus specific glycoproteins and rapid immunolocalization by using the tissue print technique

Summary The tissue print technique has been used in this study rapidly localize in stigma papillae the S-locus specific glycoproteins (SLSG) which are involved in the self-incompatibility response. The immunolabelling of SLSG was confirmed at the tissue level by the use of cryosections adhered on nitrocellulose. Pretreatment of both stigma prints or cryosections with buffers and fixatives used in conventional immunocytochemistry influenced immunolabelling of SLSG. The labelling was maintained following incubation in buffer alone or in buffered paraformaldehyde but was strongly decreased by addition of glutaraldehyde even at low concentrations. This experimental approach was useful to test the influence of parameters of chemical fixation on antigenic preservation of SLSG and may be applied to other plant antigens to facilitate or improve their immunocytochemical detection.