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Updated: Aug 8, 2026
Optical Clearing and Imaging of Immunolabeled Kidney Tissue
Published on: July 22, 2019
Routine immunofluorescence and light microscopy processing with a single renal biopsy specimen: 18 years' experience
A Pasquariello1, M Innocenti, V Batini
1Nephrology and Transplant Unit, St. Chiara Hospital, Pisa, Italy.
Insights
This study presents a simple method for renal histological diagnosis using one biopsy core for both light microscopy (LM) and immunofluorescence (IF). This approach minimizes tissue use and supports nephrology diagnostic studies.
Area of Science:
- Nephrology
- Histopathology
- Immunopathology
Background:
- Accurate renal histological diagnosis requires adequate biopsy samples for light microscopy (LM) and immunofluorescence (IF).
- Current practice often utilizes two separate biopsy cores, potentially increasing patient discomfort and tissue consumption.
Purpose of the Study:
- To describe a simplified method for performing LM on frozen renal biopsy material already designated for IF.
- To evaluate the efficacy and artifact rate of this combined LM and IF approach.
Main Methods:
- Utilized a single frozen renal biopsy core for both immunofluorescence (IF) and subsequent light microscopy (LM) analysis.
- Processed over 2,000 biopsies using this integrated method over 18 years.
Main Results:
- The integrated method demonstrated a very low artifact rate (3 out of over 2,000 biopsies), primarily associated with high ambient temperatures (>30°C).
- This technique allows for simultaneous LM and IF analysis from a single biopsy core, preserving the other core for advanced molecular techniques.
Conclusions:
- This streamlined method provides a reliable and efficient approach for renal biopsy analysis, combining LM and IF on one core.
- The technique supports comprehensive diagnostic and etiopathogenic studies in nephrology while optimizing tissue utilization.
Abstract:
To obtain a correct histological renal diagnosis, two adequate cortical biopsy cylinders are routinely taken for light microscopy and immunohistology in nephrology units. We describe our simple method for light microscopy (LM) study using the same frozen renal material used for immunofluorescence (IF). Of over 2,000 biopsies processed with this method, only three showed thawing artifacts and all occurred when the room temperature was above 30 degrees C. Our 18 years' experience and the large number of biopsies indicate that this method offers an interesting new way to do LM and IF with one biopsy core and could help stimulate etiopathogenic and diagnostic studies in nephrology. The other renal specimen can be used for histological investigation, applying recent molecular biology techniques (PCR, RT-PCR, in situ hybridization).
