Hi Sarah, in a previous job my lab did extensive IHC staining on mouse xenografts of human tumors, like your tissue. We never used mouse monoclonal primaries on this, because of the background issue. Even with a kit designed to supposedly block the non-specific mouse cross-reactivity, the results were not good the few times we tried it. When using a rabbit poly (or rat mono) as primary, and the appropriate detection system, non-specific background was never a problem. So like Ashley says, your problem is probably with your MACH3 detection system, which seems to pick up mouse antigens. Use a rabbit-specific one, and your problem should go away. Good luck,
__________________________________ Jean-Martin Lapointe, DMV, MS, dACVP Vice-President, Pathologie AccelLAB Inc 1635 Lionel-Bertrand, Boisbriand Québec, Canada J7H 1N8 tel: 450-435-9482 ext.247 fax: 450-435-4795 jm.lapoi...@accellab.com ------------------------------ Message: 10 Date: Mon, 2 May 2011 11:46:29 -0500 From: "Troutman, Kenneth A" <ashley.trout...@vanderbilt.edu> Subject: Re: [Histonet] Tumors tumors everywhere To: "Histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu" <Histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu> Message-ID: <7b310892042da74cb3590053f424cfe613d63cd...@its-hcwnem06.ds.vanderbilt.edu> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" Hi Sarah, Biocare's MACH3 is designed to work with mouse or rabbit antibodies, so it is likely picking up some mouse antigens: http://biocare.net/products/detection/mach-3/ MACH 3(tm) MACH 3 is a two-step, biotin-free detection system which provides excellent specificity, sensitivity and nuclear staining for mouse or rabbit primary antibodies. I would choose a reagent that recognizes ONLY your rabbit antibody. Check out Biocare's Starr Trek components (like the Trekkie Rabbit link. I know the name is goofy... :)). They should be able to help you. Good luck. Ashley Troutman BS, HT(ASCP) QIHC Immunohistochemistry Supervisor Vanderbilt University Histopathology 1301 Medical Center Drive TVC 4531 Nashville, TN 37232 Message: 7 Date: Thu, 28 Apr 2011 15:16:16 -0500 From: <sgoe...@mirnarx.com> Subject: [Histonet] Tumors tumors everywhere To: <histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu> Message-ID: <d957f2a7d21959488c492a2680f9920a224...@svrexch.asuragen.us> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" So I am staining tumors that were implanted as cells subdermally into mice. The cells are human. I am trying to do Caspase staining on these tumors. The primary is an anti-human rabbit polyclonal, and I am using a polymer (Biocare Mach3) in lieu of the secondary antibody. The background is through the roof!! Could the reason be that the tumor was grown in a mouse and is having cross reactivity somehow? What species antibody should I be using instead? All my mouse monoclonal antibodies work perfect on the tissue, it's this stupid rabbit polyclonal!! I am blocking endogenous enzymes (peroxidase etc., DAKO), avidin and biotin (just to see if that would help...it didn't), and protein block (it's literally an hour worth of blocking!!), developing with DAB (Dako) and hematoxylin counterstain. I am so confused as how to get this to work! Also, it isn't just this particular antibody it is any rabbit polyclonal I have tried. Could it be the polymer? It is the one that Biocare suggested? HELP!! Thanks in advance =) Sarah Goebel, BA, HT(ASCP) Histotechnologist Mirna Therapeutics 2150 Woodward Street Suite 100 Austin, Texas 78744 (512)901-0900 ext. 6912 ***************** _______________________________________________ Histonet mailing list Histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu http://lists.utsouthwestern.edu/mailman/listinfo/histonet