Immunocytochemistry--possibilities for detection of different tissue antigens and establishment of the functional role of cells.

The present review underlines briefly the wide distribution and application of the main immunocytochemical methods for the detection and localization of numerous antigens in tissue sections. For example, a lot of neuroactive substances have been revealed in structures of the central and peripheral nervous system by means of immunocytochemical techniques. The results obtained serve for the better understanding of the main physiological role and the interrelationships of different neuronal classes. Furthermore, some important problems accompanying an immunocytochemical staining connected with the quality of the antibodies used, with the resemblance of the chemical composition of different antigens, and with the coexistence of more neuroactive substances in a nerve cell are pointed out.