German,

I have never tried this.  I doubt if it will work.  DiI is extremely 
lipophilic.  In fact, it passively partitions into cellular membranes.  Any 
attempts at dehydrating is likely to cause the DiI to diffuse out of the 
membrane.  Molecular Probes makes a fixable DiI.  Assuming you can get it to 
work in your prep, it should survive the dehydration process after it has 
been fixed in place with aldehyde fixatives.  However, I have heard that the 
fixable DiI doesn't work nearly as well nonfixable DiI, particularly when 
used as a neuronal tracer.  I guess it doesn't transport as well along the 
plasma membrane.

Karen in Oregon



Date:          Mon, 11 Oct 1999 09:44:13 +0200
From:          "German Pinzon-Duarte" 
<german.pinzon@student.uni-tuebingen.de>
Subject:       DiI and plastic embedding
To:            <histonet@pathology.swmed.edu>

Hi Histonetters,

I would like to use DiI-labeling together with a plastic embedding.
Does anyone have experience with this? The protocol requires alcohol and I'm
not sure wheter DiI fades with alcohol or not.

Thank you very much in advance!!!

German