The use of antibodies to study cell structure and metabolism

Immunocytological methods have been profitably employed as specific stains for identifiable tissue antigens. Large macro molecules which resist translocation and contain sufficient antigenic determinants to retain antigenicity during chemical fixation have been localized most successfully. If employed as haptenes to raise specific antisera, smaller molecular metabolites may also be localized within cells by immunological techniques, providing methods are used to restrict their diffusion within the tissue sections. Ultrastructural immunocytological experiments have been successful in analyzing the distribution of protein receptors on the surfaces of cells in suspension and in the intracellular synthesis of immunoglobulins. Increased collaborative efforts between immunologists and histochemists may be expected to continue this growing trend toward the biological synthesis and application of specific immunohistochemical reagents.