In vivo bromodeoxyuridine incorporation in normal mouse kidney: immunohistochemical detection and measurement of labelling indices.

A method is reported for in vivo bromodeoxyuridine incorporation in mice and its subsequent visualization in kidney by immunohistochemistry. Following formal-sublimate fixation of the kidney, bromodeoxyuridine labelled nuclei were detected in paraffin sections with a monoclonal antibody and visualized by an immunoperoxidase technique. This rapid and unequivocal method was used to measure labelling indices in tubules, glomerular tuft and Bowman's capsule in normal male T70 (Beige) mice, at intervals up to 72h after labelling. Significant differences were found between the labelling indices of these three populations of cells, which appeared to show different cell kinetic behaviour.