ABSTRACT
Different methods for revealing coexistence of multiple antigens in the same cellular or subcellular compartment have been developed. The receptor is being studied as an antigen, and the specificity of the localization must be supported by the adequate immunocytochemical and associated biochemical controls. In Elution double staining type of method, staining for the first antigen is followed by elution of all antibodies and restaining for a second antigen. By now, several different methods for double and multiple staining of antigens without the need for elution are available. With the introduction of monoclonal antibodies, a number of cell-specific surface antigens have been detected. If surface expression of defined intracellular antigens is a general phenomenon, studies incorporating in vivo immunocytochemistry will certainly become a rapidly advancing and important new frontier. In order to make quantitation feasible, it is necessary to use a tissue fixation and pretreatment schedule that preserves most of the antigenicity.
