[Histonet] Use of methanol and DMSO in Whole mount immunostaining

[Johnson, Teri]

Ref: GENES & DEVELOPMENT 9:2509-2522, Misexpression of Hoxa-13 induces
cartilage homeotic transformation and changes cell adhesiveness in chick
limb buds, Yokouchi, et al

In this study, chick embryos were dissected and fixed in methanol/DMSO
(4:1) at 4 degrees C overnight, followed by peroxidase blocking in 5%
hydrogen peroxide in methanol/DMSO (4:1).  I am unfamiliar with using
methanol/DMSO as a tissue fixative for whole mount studies.  This can
obviously be quite helpful for finding protein targets that are masked
or made unrecognizable using aldehyde fixatives.  What effect would the
DMSO have on the samples prior to immunostaining?

Teri Johnson
Managing Director Histology Facility
Stowers Institute for Medical Research
1000 E. 50th St.
Kansas City, MO 64133