Islet Cell Immunostaining

Solutions:

l  4% PFA: 100 ml

4g paraformaldehyde dissolves in 100 ml 1X PBS at 65

l  Permeabilisation Solution: 50ml

serum (donkey)         5%             2.5 ml

triton X-100            0.1%           0.05 ml

sodium azide           0.05%          0.025g

l  Blocking Solution: 20ml

serum (donkey)          5%            1ml

sodium azide            0.05%          0.01g

l  Antibody Solution: 20ml

serum (donkey)           2%           0.4ml

sodium azide             0.05%         0.01g

l  Primary Antibody:

Insulin 1:200 -- 5μl Insulin diluted in 1ml Antibody Solution

Glucagon 1:200 -- 5μl glucagon diluted in 1ml Antibody Solution

l  Secondary Antibody:

Insulin Green 1:300-- 3μl Insulin G dilutes in 900μl Antibody Solution

Insulin Red 1:200-- 5μl Insulin R diluted in 1ml Antibody Solution

Glugagon Green 1:200-- 5μl glucagon G diluted in 1ml Antibody Solution

Glugagon Red 1:200-- 5μl glucagon R diluted in 1ml Antibody Solution

 

Protocol:

1.        Fix cells in ice cold 4% PFA for 7 minutes (samples can be kept for months, but make sure to parafilm the dish to avoid drying out)

2.        Wash 2x with PBS

3.        Leave some PBS in the bottom of the dish and, using tissue paper, soak up PBS around the rim, leaving a drop of PBS in the middle (where the cells are)

4.        Draw around this part with a PAP pen (to leave a hydrophobic barrier for small volume — one drop — around 20μl - 50μl

5.        Add Permeabilisation Solution within the PAP circle for 10 minutes on ice

6.        Wash 1x with PBS

7.        Add Blocking Solution for 1hr at room temperature

8.        Wash 1x with PBS

9.        Add Primary Antibody for 2 hr at room temperature or overnight at 4

10.    Wash 2x with PBS

11.    Add Secondary Antibody for 1 hr at room temperature (in the dark)

12.    Wash 3x to 5x with PBS