Enabling Research with IHC & IF

Mar 14, 2025
3 minutes Read
Toxicology
Histology processing involves preparing tissue samples for microscopic examination, and is crucial for identifying pathological changes, which arise from toxic exposure. Tissue histology processing forms the foundation of biomedical research by transforming biological specimens into analyzable samples that reveal crucial cellular and molecular information.
Tissue processing is fundamental to advancing scientific understanding for several important reasons:
Preserving Tissue Architecture; High-quality fixation and processing techniques maintain the natural spatial relationships between cells and structures, allowing researchers to observe tissues in their native state.
Enhancing Cellular Visualization; Through specialized staining and processing methods, otherwise transparent cellular structures become visible, highlighting specific components such as nuclei, proteins, lipids, and carbohydrates. While Hematoxylin and Eosin (H&E) staining serves most evaluation needs, our fully equipped histology laboratory offers specialized staining options tailored to specific research requirements.
Supporting Translational Research; Findings from expertly processed, sectioned, and stained tissue directly inform clinical diagnostics and therapeutic development, effectively bridging laboratory research with patient care applications.
Enabling Molecular Detection; Advanced techniques like immunofluorescence permit the identification of specific proteins and nucleic acids within their cellular context.

For example, CD80 is a cell surface marker highly expressed on M1 macrophages, making it a key target for immunofluorescence staining when identifying and characterizing these macrophages in tissues.
The CD163 EDHu antibody is a powerful tool for immunofluorescence staining of M2 macrophages, allowing researchers to study anti-inflammatory responses, tumor-associated macrophages, and tissue repair mechanisms. When combined with M1 markers like CD80, it helps in distinguishing macrophage polarization states in various disease models
DAPI (4',6-diamidino-2-phenylindole) is an essential nuclear counterstain in immunofluorescence staining, helping to provide cellular context, nuclear morphology, and localization insights. It is widely used in macrophage polarization studies due to its strong DNA specificity and compatibility with multiple fluorescence channels.
Immunohistochemistry and Immunofluorescence staining at Attentive
Consistent histology protocols guarantee that research findings can be validated and compared across different studies and laboratories. Attentive maintains standardized histology processes to deliver consistent data while remaining flexible enough to customize our approach to meet specific study design requirements. Quality histology processing including Immunohistochemistry and Immunofluorescence staining ultimately enables researchers to extract maximum information from valuable tissue samples, advancing our understanding of normal biology and disease mechanisms.
In summary, quality tissue histology processing remains an essential tool in nonclinical toxicology, providing microscopic insights into potential drug-induced tissue damage, supporting regulatory submissions, and ensuring that only safe candidates proceed to human trials. At Attentive, we prioritize quality rapid collection and preservation of tissue samples to prevent autolysis, utilizing optimal fixatives that ensure superior cellular preservation.
Attentive's histology laboratory has recently expanded its capabilities to include immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescent staining protocols, allowing our research partners to extend beyond cellular evaluation to molecular analysis.
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