A new histochemical double-stain method using three-dimensional analysis with confocal laser scanning microscopy.

We describe a new technique for immunohistochemical and enzyme-histochemical double staining using confocal laser scanning microscopy in the reflection mode. As an example, we investigated the immunoreactivity for Spot 35-calbindin-D28K, a vitamin D-dependent calcium binding protein, and the enzyme activity for Ca(2+)-ATPase in the rat kidney. The lead precipitation method for Ca(2+)-ATPase was initially used to process kidney slices. Each specimen was then dehydrated and embedded in a water soluble resin. Thin sections were cut from the resin block, and an indirect immunocolloidal gold method with silver enhancement for Spot 35-calbindin-D28K antigen was carried out on the glass slides. Results were then observed by confocal laser scanning microscopy in the reflection mode. The three-dimensional distribution of the reaction products was detected by serial optic slice images. Lead phosphate particles, which represented the location of Ca(2+)-ATPase, were distributed deep in the section. The most intense signals from the silver particles were detected from the surface slice of the section. A stereoscopic image generated from the serial optic slices clearly showed the differences in their distribution.