Improved immunoelectron microscopic method for localizing cytoskeletal proteins in Lowicryl K4M embedded tissues

We have modified the Lowicryl K4M low-temperature dehydration and embedding procedure for immunoelectron microscopy to provide improved ultrastructural detail and facilitate the localization of actin and tubulin in isolated rat adrenocortical cells, chick spinal cord with attached dorsal root ganglia (SC-DRG), and cultured dorsal root ganglia (DRG). Cells and tissues were fixed for immunocytochemistry either in a mixture of 2% paraformaldehyde and 0.25% glutaraldehyde (0.1 M PIPES buffer, pH 7.3) or in a mixture of 0.3% glutaraldehyde and 1.0% ethyldimethylaminopropylcarbodiimide (0.1 M phosphate buffered saline, pH 7.3). Dehydration was in ethanol at progressively lower temperatures to -35 degrees C. Infiltration at -35 degrees C was followed by ultraviolet polymerization at -20 degrees C. Comparable samples were fixed in glutaraldehyde and osmium tetroxide and embedded in Epon 812 or Epon-Araldite. Post-embedding immunostaining of thin sections utilized commercially available monoclonal antibodies to tubulin and actin followed by the protein A-gold technique (Roth et al., Endocrinology 108:247, 1981). Actin immunoreactivity was observed at the periphery of mitochondria and between mitochondria and lipid droplets in rat adrenocortical cells and at the periphery of neuronal cell processes of SC-DRG. Tubulin immunoreactivity was associated with microtubules throughout neurites of cultured DRG. Our modified technique allows preservation of ultrastructural details as well as localization of antigens by immunoelectron microscopy.     

Glutaraldehyde pretreatment blocks temperature-induced high-affinity [3H]tryptamine binding

The effect of glutaraldehyde (and Azure A) on temperature-sensitive high-affinity [3H]tryptamine binding was investigated in rat brain synaptic plasma membranes. In the 0.01-0.1% concentration range, the glutaraldehyde pretreatment preferentially inhibited only the above-mentioned portion of the binding, whereas the posttreatment of this reagent had no effect. On the other hand, in cases of pretreatment or posttreatment, a concentration of glutaraldehyde as high as 0.1% was inactive on the basal [3H]ligand binding capacity of the membranes (i.e., temperature-independent binding). Furthermore, it was revealed that the Scatchard plot of [3H]tryptamine binding in membranes pretreated with glutaraldehyde (0.05%) conformed to a straight line, as did a similar plot of temperature-independent binding. And, it was interesting to find that the binding parameters (KD and Bmax values) of both samples corresponded closely to each other. On the contrary, in all concentrations, Azure A affected nonspecifically both the temperature-dependent and the independent [3H]tryptamine binding to the same degree, regardless of whether or not there was pretreatment or posttreatment. All these observations clearly demonstrate that an appropriate concentration (0.01-0.1%) of glutaraldehyde pretreatment specifically blocks the temperature-induced allosteric modifications of high-affinity [3H]tryptamine binding sites.     

Immobilization of glucoamylase on polyamide nets

The formation of reactive groups on polyamide nets (nylon 6) and the subsequent immobilization of glucoamylase were investigated. Different mesh sizes of the nets and two chemical methods of enzyme coupling - i( partial hydrolysis of the polyamide with subsequent glutaraldehyde binding and ii) O-alkylation of the carrier using a treatment with a benzene-methyl sulphate mixture – were used. The reactivity of immobilized glucoamylase (GA) was tested by hydrolysis reactions using 1% starch solutions. The highest reactivity (140 μg glc/)min × cm² was obtained for methylated nylon samples attached to a glass rod and by coupling glucoamylase on the nylon surface which had been treated with lysine and glutaraldehyde. This method resulted in a more reactive and more stable preparation of immobilized glucoamylase as compared to a simpler method of coupling glutaraldehyde to partially hydrolyzed nylon.     

Peroxidase labelled monoclonal antibody against light chains of human cardiac myosin.

Monoclonal antibody against light chains of human cardiac myosin (MLC) was labelled with horseradish peroxidase. The conjugation was performed by two different methods with glutaraldehyde and periodate respectively. The binding activities of the conjugates were tested by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) on the microtitration plates with immobilized MLC (1-1000 ng per well). A comparison of both methods revealed their universal suitability for the preparation of conjugates as well as their applicability. The use of conjugates shortens the time needed and improves the ELISA method for MLC estimation. Specific advantages of the glutaraldehyde and the periodate method concern diverse details.     

Subspecificity determination of HBsAg by radioimmunoassay

A radioimmunoassay method for subtyping hepatitus B surface antigen (HBsAg) was developed. Polystyrene beads pretreated with glutaraldehyde and coated with monospecific anti-d or anti-y antibodies were used. The treatment of beads with glutaraldehyde significantly increased the sensitivity of the test. Subtyping by radioimmunoassay was found to be more sensitive than by the immunodiffusion method. Fifty-nine percent of the samples tested could be subtyped by RIA and only 32% by immunodiffusion. The technique has the added advantage of utilising a commercially iodinated anti-HBs.     

A simple method to preserve oceanic phytoplankton for flow cytometric analyses

A simple method was developed to preserve marine phytoplankton populations so that delayed flow cytometric analyses could be performed. The method consisted of immediate fixation with 1% glutaraldehyde (final concentration) followed by storage in liquid nitrogen. The method was tested on individual algal species and on natural samples from both coastal and pelagic waters. In most cases, it caused little cell loss and preserved well both forward angle light scatter and chlorophyll fluorescence, but phycoerythrin fluorescence sometimes was significantly increased. The technique performed best for the small-sized picoplankton (below 2 microns) such as Synechococcus cyanobacteria or the newly discovered oceanic prochlorophytes. For larger-sized cells it had to be applied on a case by case basis as some fragile species, particularly dinoflagellates and cryptophytes, were poorly preserved.     

Pronase treatment increases the staining intensity of GABA-immunoreactive structures in the paravertebral sympathetic ganglia

A novel tissue preparation technique for improving gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) immunocytochemistry has been developed. The influence of the glutaraldehyde concentration in the fixative and the effect of pronase treatment on the GABA immunostaining were tested. This method includes fixation with a high concentration of glutaraldehyde, gelatin embedding and treatment of the sections with pronase. In sympathetic (paravertebral) ganglia and their connectives, the most intense and specific immunoreaction was obtained with the following procedure: immersion fixation in 5% glutaraldehyde, infiltration and embedding in 15% gelatin, secondary fixation of the samples with 4% formaldehyde, floating frozen sections and digestion with 0.1% pronase for 15-20 min. With this technique, the GABA-containing structures (cells and nerve fibers with varicosities forming basket-like networks around some principal neurons) were selectively labeled. The data presented suggest that (1) a high concentration (5%) of glutaraldehyde in the primary fixative is necessary to preserve a large proportion of the GABA content; (2) this glutaraldehyde fixation partly masks the GABA immunoreactivity; and (3) this masking may be overcome by a proteolytic treatment preceding the immunostaining. This method has been extensively tested for the light microscopic visualization of GABA-containing tissue components in the sympathetic ganglion chain, but it may probably also be used for the immunocytochemical detection of other small molecules in other parts of the nervous system.     

Antigen preservation tests for immunocytochemical detection of cytoskeletal proteins: influence of aldehyde fixatives

The effects of aldehyde fixatives on immunochemical detection of cytoskeletal proteins were demonstrated by applying several quantitative assays to evaluate antigen conservation. Immunologically detectable brain spectrin (240/235) was measured by dot-immunobinding and quantitative immunodot assay using a polyclonal antibody. Paraformaldehyde fixation led to a 43-66% reduction in brain spectrin (240/235) immunodetection, and increasing glutaraldehyde concentrations decreased the immunological detection even more. Quantitative cryosection immunoassay and immunocytochemical localization confirmed the aldehyde sensitivity of brain spectrin (240/235). Brain spectrin (240/235) immunoreactivity decreased with increasing protein crosslinking and was dependent on glutaraldehyde concentration and post-fixation period. The assays were also used to test for conservation of antigenicity of neurofilament proteins by two monoclonal antibodies. Neurofilament detection was abolished in brain tissue after aldehyde fixation. The described methods allow screening within 24 hr of many fixation conditions by use of purified proteins as well as brain tissue samples, and allow an estimate of fixative influence on the conservation of protein antigenicity.     

小麦秆锈菌菌丝体表糖基、抗原位点细胞化学测定方法的研究

本文运用前包埋电镜技术就小麦秆锈菌菌丝体表糖基、抗原位点的测定方法进行了研究。受小麦秆锈菌侵染的小麦叶片经1%戊二醛和4%多聚甲醛固定液先固定后,分别用两个凝集素探针、两个抗体以及A蛋白-胶体金,对样品进行孵育反应,随后样品经2%锇酸后固定、脱水和包埋。电镜下观察到,两个凝集素探针成功地显示出相应的糖基在菌丝体表的分布状况;两个抗体也相应揭示出菌丝体表的抗原位点。结果表明运用该方法来分析测定锈菌体表的化学成分是可行的。     

Comparison of different techniques to determine the percentage of intact acrosomes in frozen-thawed bull semen

Twenty-seven different batch dates of frozen bull semen from 26 bulls were used in this study. The semen was in 0.5-ml straws, and 23 of the batch dates were in whole milk extender while 4 were in egg yolk-tris extender. Straws from each batch of semen were incubated for 2 hours in a water bath at 37 degrees C. Following this, the percentage of progressive motility, the rate of motility, and the percentage of intact acrosomes were determined for each unfixed sample. Each batch of semen was fixed in 2 different solutions of 0.2% glutaraldehyde in phosphate-buffered saline (glutaraldehyde 1 and glutaraldehyde 2) and in 10% neutral buffered formol saline (formol saline). The percentage of intact acrosomes for each sample in these fixatives was determined at Day 0 and Day 7. There were no significant differences in the percentages of intact acrosomes among the unfixed samples and the samples in the 3 fixatives at Day 0. At Day 7, the samples in formol saline had a significantly higher percentage of intact acrosomes than those in glutaraldehyde 2. When the percentage of intact acrosomes for the unfixed samples at Day 0 was compared with the percentages of intact acrosomes for glutaraldehyde 1, glutaraldehyde 2, and formol saline at Day 7, only the percentage of intact acrosomes for formol saline was significantly higher than for the unfixed samples. Only one of the batches of semen in egg yolk-tris extender could be evaluated in formol saline because of a heavy precipitate that formed. There was a significant interaction between extender and storage. For the whole milk extender, the percentages of intact acrosomes at Day 7 were higher than for Day 0 for all the fixatives used. For the egg yolk-tris extender, the percentage of intact acrosomes decreased from Day 0 to Day 7. The correlations between the percentage of intact acrosomes for the unfixed samples and the post-incubation percentage of progressivé motility and rate of motility were 0.65 and 0.46, respectively.     

Pronase treatment increases the staining intensity of GABA-immunoreactive structures in the paravertebral sympathetic ganglia

Summary A novel tissue preparation technique for improving gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) immunocytochemistry has been developed. The influence of the glutaraldehyde concentration in the fixative and the effect of pronase treatment on the GABA immunostaining were tested. This method includes fixation with a high concentration of glutaraldehyde, gelatin embedding and treatment of the sections with pronase. In sympathetic (paravertebral) ganglia and their connectives, the most intense and specific immunoreaction was obtained with the following procedure: immersion fixation in 5% glutaraldehyde, infiltration and embedding in 15% gelatin, secondary fixation of the samples with 4% formaldehyde, floating frozen sections and digestion with 0.1% pronase for 15–20 min. With this technique, the GABA-containing structures (cells and nerve fibers with varicosities forming basket-like networks around some principal neurons) were selectively labeled. The data presented suggest that (1) a high concentration (5%) of glutaraldehyde in the primary fixative is necessary to preserve a large proportion of the GABA content; (2) this glutaraldehyde fixation partly masks the GABA immunoreactivity; and (3) this masking may be overcome by a proteolytic treatment preceding the immunostaining. This method has been extensively tested for the light microscopic visualization of GABA-containing tissue components in the sympathetic ganglion chain, but it may probably also be used for the immunocytochemical detection of other small molecules in other parts of the nervous system.     

Glutaraldehyde and glyoxal cross-linked chitosan microspheres for controlled delivery of centchroman

Glutaraldehyde and glyoxal cross-linked microspheres were prepared using chitosan with different molecular weights (MWs) and degrees of deacetylation (DDAs) for sustained release of centchroman under physiological conditions. The DDA in chitosan was determined by different methods, and the samples were categorized as chitosan with low (48%), medium (62%), and high (75%) DDA. The size and shape of the microspheres were determined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and hydrophobicity was determined by adsorption of Rose Bengal dye on microspheres cross-linked with glutaraldehyde or glyoxal. The effect of MW, DDA, and degree of cross-linking in microspheres was studied on the degree of swelling, as well as by the loading and release of centchroman. The glyoxal cross-linked microspheres were more compact and hydrophobic and showed better sustained release in companion to chitosan microspheres and glutaraldehyde cross-linked microspheres. The linear fractional release of centchroman with the square root of time indicated a Fickian behavior of centchroman, and the microspheres also showed zero-order release kinetics for centchroman.     

Immobilization and kinetics of catalase onto magnesium silicate

Bovine liver catalase was immobilized covalently with glutaraldehyde, or glutaraldehyde+3-aminopropionic acid as a spacer, onto magnesium silicate. The coupling time was determined as 2 h for immobilization. The pH and temperature optima as well as the changes in the kinetics (K_m, V_max, E_a) of the immobilized catalase was observed and discussed. Immobilized catalase preparations showed higher storage stabilities than free catalase. The half-life of free catalase, catalase immobilized via glutaraldehyde and catalase immobilized via glutaraldehyde+spacer were calculated as 2, 55 and 10 days at room temperature and 4, 85 and 107 days at 5 °C, respectively. The operational stability of the catalase immobilized via glutaraldehyde was higher than the catalase immobilized via glutaraldehyde+spacer. The remaining activity of the catalase immobilized via glutaraldehyde was about 90% and that of the catalase immobilized via glutaraldeyde+spacer was about 30% after 20 cycles of batch operation.     

Selective fixation with glutaraldehyde of ADH-induced urea permeability sites in toad bladder

Toad bladders exposed to vasopressin (ADH) and then fixed on the mucosal surface with 1% glutaraldehyde were highly permeable to water and to urea compared to control bladders fixed in the absence of hormone. When identical conditions of fixation were were used, but the concentration of glutaraldehyde was decreased to 0.25%, the ADH-induced increase in membrane permeability to urea was preserved whereas water permeability was not. About 74% of the hormone-induced urea permeability sites were preserved by glutaraldehyde and were stable to changes in temperature as suggested by a constant value for the activation energy of urea movement of 5.4 kcal/mole (4-33 degrees C). In other studies bladders were exposed at low temperatures to 0.17% glutaraldehyde applied either to the serosal or the mucosal surface. The ADH-induced increase in membrane permeability to urea, bulk water, and tritiated water was well preserved with serosal fixation, but not with mucosal fixation. The observation that the urea pathway can be selectively preserved with 0.25% glutaraldehyde applied to the mucosa indicates that this structure is more accessible and (or) more sensitive to low-dose glutaraldehyde than is the ADH-induced water pathway. The observation that glutaraldehyde is more effective in stabilizing the ADH-induced urea channels from the serosal than from the mucosal surface indicates that these channels are not fixed at the extracellular surface of the apical plasma membrane. It appears, rather, that glutaraldehyde exerts its effects from an intracellular position, where it cross-links components of the urea channels at the cytoplasmic surface of the apical membrane and (or) inactivates the intracellular machinery responsible for the removal or dispersal of the ADH-induced urea permeability sites.     

Glutaraldehyde fixation of boar spermatozoa for acrosome evaluation

The acrosome morphology, as assessed by phase-contrast microscopy, was not altered by fixing boar spermatozoa with 0.1 to 2% glutaraldehyde in comparison to spermatozoa inhibited with NaF. The acrosome morphology of glutaraldehyde-fixed samples remained unchanged for 14 days.Boar semen diluted and stored in Beltsville L1 (BL1), egg-yolk-glucose-bicarbonate (EGB), and Beltsville F5 (BF5) could be fixed with glutaraldehyde for acrosome evaluation if the supernatant solution containing egg yolk was removed immediately after glutaraldehyde addition. Spermatozoa extended in Beltsville F3 (BF3) extender could not be microscopically evaluated after glutaraldehyde fixation because of casein precipitation. Acrosome morphology of glutaraldehyde-fixed boar spermatozoa remained unchanged for at least 19 days holding at room temperature or shipping by parcel post.     

The effect of an aldehyde biocide on the performance and characteristics of laboratory-scale rotating biological contactors

The effect of an aldehyde biocide, glutaraldehyde, on the treatment efficiency of laboratory-scale rotating biological contactors (RBCs) as well as their component biofilms was studied. Biofilms were established on the RBCs and then exposed to 0-120 ppm glutaraldehyde at a flow rate of 2.5 l x h(-1). The results showed that glutaraldehyde up to 80 ppm did not cause any adverse effect on chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal of the RBC units, microbial activity (ATP content) of biofilms on the RBC disc and viability of the biofilms. Glutaraldehyde at 80 ppm could be almost totally removed by the units regardless of the presence of simple carbon sources. There was at least a fourfold difference in susceptibility of planktonic and sessile bacteria to glutaraldehyde. Cells acclimatized to glutaraldehyde did not increase their capability to degrade normal carbon sources or glutaraldehyde under the conditions used in this study.     

Fixation, Counting, and Manipulation of Heterotrophic Nanoflagellates

Quantitative effects of several fixatives on heterotrophic nanoflagellates (HNAN) and phototrophic nanoflagellates (PNAN) were investigated by hemacytometer and epifluorescence counting techniques. Counts of Monas sp. cultures before and after fixation with unbuffered 0.3% glutaraldehyde and 5% formaldehyde showed no loss of cells during fixation, and cell concentrations remained constant for several weeks after fixation. Buffering of fixatives with borax caused severe losses, up to 100% within 2 h. Field samples from Lake Vechten showed no decline of HNAN and total nanoflagellate concentrations for at least 1 week after fixation with 5% formaldehyde and with 1% glutaraldehyde. With 1% glutaraldehyde, the chlorophyll autofluorescence of PNAN was much brighter than with 5% formaldehyde, although it was lost after a few days and thus limited the storage time of samples. However, when primulin-stained slides were prepared soon after fixation and stored at −30°C, the loss of autofluorescence was prevented and PNAN and HNAN concentrations were stable for at least 16 weeks. Effects of filtration and centrifugation on HNAN were also studied. Filtration vacuum could not exceed 3 kPa since 10 kPa already caused losses of 15 to 20%. Similar losses were caused by centrifugation, even at low speed (500 × g).     

DEVELOPMENT OF A NEW BIOSENSOR FOR DETERMINATION OF CATALASE ACTIVITY

Catalase is one of the major antioxidant enzymes that catalyzes the hydrolysis of H₂O₂. The aim of this study was to suggest a new method for the assay of catalase activity. For this purpose, an amperometric biosensor based on glucose oxidase for determination of catalase activity was developed. Immobilization of glucose oxidase was made by a cross-linking method with glutaraldehyde on a Clark-type electrode (dissolved oxygen probe). Optimization and characterization properties of the biosensor were studied and determination of catalase activity in defined conditions was investigated in artificial serum solution. The results were compared with a reference method.     

固定化黑曲霉β-葡萄糖苷酶制备染料木素活性苷元的研究

比较了以海藻酸钠为载体,用胶囊法、包埋-交联法、交联-包埋法三种不同方法固定化黑曲霉β-葡萄糖苷酶的效果,并研究了最佳固定化方法的固定化条件和固定化酶的部分性质。结果表明,交联-包埋法即β-葡萄糖苷酶与0.20%戊二醛交联后再用2.0%海藻酸钠包埋的固定化方法中酶结合效率和酶活力回收率最高。海藻酸钠浓度和戊二醛浓度对酶结合效率影响较大,戊二醛浓度和包埋颗粒直径大小对酶活力回收率影响显著。与游离酶相比,制备的固定化酶最适温度、最适pH值和Km值分别由50℃、4.5和2.57μg/mL下降到40℃、4.0和2.02μg/mL。固定化酶具有更强的耐酸性和稳定性。该固定化酶用于大豆异黄酮活性苷元染料木素的合成,重复使用6次后,固定化酶的活力仍保持84.94%,染料木苷转化率为56.04%。     

Solid-phase peptide quantitation assay using labeled monoclonal antibody and glutaraldehyde fixation

A solid-phase radioimmunoassay utilizing iodinated peptide-specific monoclonal antibody as a detection system instead of labeled peptide has been developed. Regional specific monoclonal antibodies to either gastrin-releasing peptide or gastrin were used as models to validate the general application of our modified assay. Conditions for radioactive labeling of the monoclonal antibody were determined to minimize oxidant damage, which compromises the sensitivity of other reported peptide quantitation assays. Pretreatment of 96-well polyvinyl chloride test plates with a 5% glutaraldehyde solution resulted in consistent retention of sufficient target peptide on the solid-phase matrix to allow precise quantitation. This quantitative method is completed within 1 h of peptide solid phasing. Pretreatment of assay plates with glutaraldehyde increased binding of target peptide and maximized antibody binding by optimizing antigen presentation. The hypothesis that glutaraldehyde affects both peptide binding to the plate and orientation of the peptide was confirmed by analysis of several peptide analogs. These studies indicate that peptide binding was mediated through a free amino group leaving the carboxy-terminal portion of the target peptide accessible for antibody binding. It was observed that the length of the peptide also affects the amount of monoclonal antibody that will bind. Under the optimal conditions, results from quantitation of gastrin-releasing peptide in relevant samples agree well with those from previously reported techniques. Thus, we report here a modified microplate assay which may be generally applied for the rapid and sensitive quantitation of peptide hormones.