Studies with anti-bromodeoxyuridine antibodies: II. Simultaneous immunocytochemical detection of antigen expression and DNA synthesis by in vivo labeling of mouse intestinal mucosa.

We developed a rapid and convenient immunocytochemical method for simultaneous detection of antigen expression and S-phase cells by means of anti-bromodeoxyuridine (BrdUrd) antibodies. Immunocytochemical detection of BrdUrd after in vivo administration in mice was compared with autoradiography using [3H]-BrdUrd. Both the sensitivity and specificity of the technique were high. For the dual peroxidase staining technique, DAB color modification by cobalt ions was used. We showed that antigen localization was not affected by the BrdUrd staining protocol. The technique we describe here can be performed on frozen or paraffin-embedded tissue and on cytocentrifuge preparations for analysis of the cytokinetics of phenotypically defined cells in heterogeneous populations.