Immunoelectron microscopy with immunogold staining method and monoclonal antibodies. A promising tool in ultrastructural study of lymphatic subpopulations.

The immunogold staining method has been recently introduced and proved to be of interest in immunoelectron microscopy as a tracer for detection of cell surface antigens defined by monoclonal antibodies in leukocytes. As variations in sample manipulations and different distribution patterns of gold particles in positive cells are reported, the authors described the experimental conditions which permit them to obtain a good and well interpretable labelling in peripheral blood lymphatic cells. In order to verify the sensitivity and the specificity of this labelling and the interpretation of positivity, a comparison between the percentages of positive cells obtained in electron microscopy and immunofluorescence has been reported. The correlation is acceptable and since the ultrastructural details are also well preserved, this method seems promising for the comparison of molecular phenotypic characteristics and submicroscopic appearance of lymphatic cells.