[Use of colloidal gold in ultrastructural cytochemistry]

Colloid gold stabilized by macromolecules with various binding characteristics proved to be usable in transmission electron microscopy: Nucleic acids localization was studied in tissue cultures after embedding by techniques autoimmune serum-protein A--gold and RNase--gold. Technique with serum autoantibodies against double-stranded DNA resulted in marking condensed chromatin. Further experiments with ultrastructural localization of other autoimmune components seemed to be perspective and of diagnostic importance. Technique with RNase--gold complex marked especially ribosomes, nucleolus and interchromatin nuclear spaces. Herpes virus, rotavirus and enterovirus were identified in negative contrast by the technique antivirus serum--protein A--gold. A higher warrant of evidence achieved by the method may be used in virologic diagnosis. A small amount of tubulin was found in isolated permeabilized nuclei of Xenopus laevis by a direct immunocytochemical method with complex monoclonal IgG against tubulin-gold. Binding of complex of triiodothyronine-bovine serum albumin--gold on the cytoplasmic membrane of LEP cells in a short term tissue culture showed a possibility of tracing non-peptidic hormones binding on specific receptors.