Immunohistochemical detection of intermediate filament nestin

Using Rat-401 monoclonal antibody and peroxidase immunohistochemistry we have detected IF nestin in developing and adult rat tissues. Although epitope recognized by Rat-401 antibody is relatively resistant to aldehyde fixation and paraffin embedding, the embedding of tissue samples into polyester wax and microwave antigen retrieval of histological sections enabled us to enhance sensitivity of immunohistochemical detection and to identify cells expressing low levels of nestin. Our findings confirm that nestin is predominantly distributed in developing neural, myogenic and mesenchymal cells, i.e. cell types that have been previously described to express this intermediate filament. Furthermore, we made original findings on identification of nestin expression in additional cell types, e.g. newly formed endothelial cells of extra- and intraembryonic blood vessels, epithelial cells of the developing lens, and cells apposed to to hair follicles.