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Factors which Affect Efficiency of Autoradiography with Tritiated Thymidine

Journal Article · · Stain Technology

An investigation of the overall efficiency of autoradiography with thymidine H³ revealed that efficiency is influenced by: exposure in an atmosphere of CO₂ and the use of the stripping-film technique, both of which increase the autoradiographic efficiency when compared to exposure in air or to dip-coating technique; latent image fading, which increases with increasing exposure; the thickness of the inert coating interposed between the labeled locus and the sensitized emulsion. A layer of inert coating can be obtained that will arrest all beta particles from tritium, while having no effect on more energetic emitters like C¹⁴; the amount of tritiated thymidine given, with relatively large amounts producing an increase in the mean grain count per labeled cell but not in the percentage of cells identifiable as labeled; and the type of fixative and the staining procedure used. Feulgen stain reduces the mean grain count in cells labeled with radioactive thymidine, while fixation with acetic acid-alcohol (1: 3) reduces the grain count in cells labeled with precursors of RNA. (TCO)

Research Organization:
Northwestern Univ., Chicago
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE
NSA Number:
NSA-17-021422
OSTI ID:
4715121
Journal Information:
Stain Technology, Journal Name: Stain Technology Journal Issue: 1 Vol. 37; ISSN 0038-9153
Country of Publication:
Country unknown/Code not available
Language:
English