What kind of embryos are you fixing?  How large are they?  Do you plan to section 
them before doing IHC or do you plan to stain them as whole embryos?

Karen in Oregon


Date:          Tue, 3 Aug 1999 13:36:19 -0500 
From:          "LOVE, JOHN E. (JSC-SD)" <john.e.love1@jsc.nasa.gov>
Subject:       Formaldehyde overfixation artifact in immunocytochemistry
To:            "'histonet@pathology.swmed.edu'" <histonet@pathology.swmed.edu>

Considering that excessive times in aldehyde fixatives may result in
overfixation artifact during immunocytochemistry (e.g. epitope masking,
increased background staining), I would appreciate input regarding
recommended times for fixation of early embryos or cell cultures in buffered
10% formalin (4% formaldehyde).  Thanks for your help,
 
John