DetectionbyTUNELlabeling

In Situ Cell Death (Apoptosis) Detection by TUNEL labeling
by Boehringer Mannheim (Catalog No. 1684809), modified by Josiah N. Wilcox,
José C. Rodriguez, and Héctor de Léon - Emory University - April 1996

Protocol for Paraffin Sections:

1. Dewax paraffin sections:

   Incubate slides, 55°C, 30 min.
   Xylenes, 2 times, 2 min. each
   100% EtOH, 2 times, 2 min. each
   95% EtOH, 2 times, 2 min. each
   80% EtOH, 2 min.
   75% EtOH, 2 min.
   50% EtOH, 2 min.

2. dH2O rinse.

3. Incubate slides in a 1μg/ml Proteinase K/10mM Tris solution, 15 min., RT. (7.5μl of 20μg/μl PK in 150 ml 10mM Tris, pH 7.4-8.0).

4. All slides: 1x PBS rinse, 2 times (+ 10 min for those non-positive control slides).

5. (Positive control slide: in DNase I solution (100μl of 200μg/ml), 10 min., RT. 1x PBS rinse, 2 times in a separate container then combine with other slides.)

6. Wipe around tissue.

7. Make up negative Control solution (just Label solution containing FITC) and TUNEL solutions at time of use:

   A. Remove 100μl from Tube 2 (Label solution) for 2 negative controls (50μl each). Do this even if you are omitting this negative control so that volumes and concentrations will remain consistent for the labeling.

   B. Add Total volume (50μl,) of Tube 1 (TdT) + remainder of Tube 2 (450μl).

8. Apply 100μl TUNEL reaction mixture (or 100μl Control Label solution for negative control) to each slide.

9. Incubate in humid chamber, 60 min., 37°C.

10. 1x PBS wash, 3 times.

11. Wipe around tissue.

12. Apply 100μl anti-FITC-AP conj. ("converter-AP") on each sample.

13. Incubate in humid chamber, 30 min., 37°C.

14. 1x PBS wash, 3 times.

15. 100mM Tris buffer, pH 8.2, 5 min., RT.

16. Add 50-100μl substrate solution (5-6 drops Vector Blue or Vector Red substrate/per slide):

• Mix:

  5ml 100mM Tris, pH 8.2
  1 drop Levamisole
  2 drops each of Solution 1, 2, and 3 of either Vector substrate

17. Incubate in absence of light, RT. Vector Blue - 10 min.; Vector Red - 5-8 min.

18. dH2O, 1 time to stop color reaction.

• Counterstain for Vector Blue:

• Gill's Hematoxylin, No. 2, 5 sec.
  Water rinse until clear
  Scott's solution, 20 sec.
  Water rinse until clear
  70% EtOH, 30 sec.
  95% EtOH, 2 times, 30 sec. each
  100% EtOH, 2 times, 30 sec. each
  Histoclear, 1 min.
  Histoclear, 1 min.
  Coverslip with Accumount medium.

• 
  

• Counterstain for Vector Red:

• Gill's Hematoxylin, No. 2, 5 sec.
  Water rinse until clear
  Scott's solution, 20 sec.
  Water rinse until clear
  70% EtOH, 30 sec.
  95% EtOH, 2 times, 30 sec. each
  100% EtOH, 2 times, 30 sec. each
  Xylenes, 1 min.
  Xylenes, 1 min.
  Coverslip with Accumount medium.

• 
  

• Reagents Needed:

• 3L 1x PBS
  10mM Tris-HCl
  20 mg/ml Proteinase K
  100μl/slide x-phosphate/BCIP or Fast Red substrate
  DNase I solution (1mg/ml - 1μg/ml) for Positive control
  100mM Tris-Hcl, pH 8.2