Combined immunomorphological examination of epon-embedded human kidney biopsies: a comparative study between cryostat, paraffin and consecutive epon-embedded sections for detection and localization of immune deposits.

Immunomorphologic analysis of glomerulopathies in human kidney biopsies can be achieved in sections embedded in Epon. Formalin fixation followed by protease treatment of the tissue before dehydration and embedding are the essential steps in the incubation method which permit the detection of both immunoglobulins and complement (C3). The sections can be used for comparative light, phase contrast, and electron microscopic examination. This method is superior to paraffin and methacrylate embedding techniques for detailed immunomorphology.