Immunocytochemistry of Whole-Mount Preparations

Virtually any organ and tissue can be studied by means of immunostained “whole-mount preparations”. These are unsectioned portions, or microdissected fragments of an organ largely retaining the original three-dimensional morphology and tissue context. Immunocytochemistry of whole-mounts may be relatively complex and time-consuming, but is highly rewarding. On such preparations, the enormous selectivity of immunostaining provides unique opportunities to visually follow and “dissect out” specific tissue components in their original three-dimensional geometry and organ/tissue context