Immunofluorescent study of alpha‐foetoprotein (αfp) in liver and liver tumours. I. Technique of αfp localization in tissue sections

Abstract

Abstract Sections of paraffin‐embedded tissue blocks fixed by ethanol/acetic acid were found to be very suitable for immunofluorescent (IF) study of αfp. In paraffin blocks the antigen was preserved for at least 1 year. It was possible to prepare serial sections for routine histological examination and simultaneous IF localization of several antigens practically in the same cells. Antibodies to αfp were obtained by glutaraldehyde immunosorbent technique. Their monospecificity was controlled by IF reaction on the αfp‐negative sections and by neutralization with pure αfp. To differentiate αfp localization due to passive serum uptake from specific sites of αfp production or storage, a simultaneous study of αfp and γ‐globulin γG distribution was performed. Only the structures containing αfp without γG were regarded as specifically connected with αfp metabolism. These were liver parenchyma cells in foetal and newborn liver and tumour cells in human primary liver carcinoma.