Applications of immunocolloids in light microscopy. IV. Use of photochemical silver staining in a simple and efficient double-staining technique.

We report the development of a new light-microscopic double-staining technique using colloidal gold as sole marker. The contrasting color to the red of colloidal gold is achieved by the application of photochemical silver reaction. The silver reaction, which is principally performed at the end of the first staining sequence, converts the red color of a gold-labeled reagent into black. This contrasts clearly with the red coloration that results from the second incubation sequence without silver reaction. For antigen double staining, the same protein A-gold complex can be used to provide the black and the red color, thus rendering the technique very economical. Alternatively, combination of protein A-gold immunolocalization and lectin-gold staining is possible, as is combined lectin-gold staining.