ApopTag^® Direct Fluorescein in situ
Detection Kit
This kit detects DNA fragmentation by the catalytic addition of fluorescein-nucleotide residues to the DNA ends. The incorporated nuceleotides form a random heteropolymer in a ratio that has been optimized. Using a nucleotide directly labeled with a fluorophore allows for fewer manipulations, giving good cell recovery and approximately equal mean signal strength compared to affinity labeling methods. Qualified for use in research samples such as cell suspensions, formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissues, cryostat sections and cell cultures.

Kit Components: Equilibration buffer, reaction buffer, TdT enzyme, stop/wash buffer, blocking solution, anti-digoxigenin-fluorescein.

ApopTag^® Control Slides for in situ
Detection Kits

• Positive control for apoptosis
• For microscopy applications
• Teaching aid

This product is a positive control for use with the ApopTag^® in situ Detection Kits. These reference slides are also useful as teaching aids, and for procedural troubleshooting.

The rat mammary gland undergoes programmed cell death processes during the tissue regression that follows lactation. Apoptotic bodies, which can be seen by routine histological staining, can be specifically stained by techniques that localize DNA strand breaks in situ. The specificity of staining for strand breaks can be correlated with the morphological changes that occur during apoptosis.

Technical information: Mammary glands are obtained at the fourth day after weaning and fixed for 18 hours in 10% neutral buffered formalin (Sigma Accustain^®). After embedding in paraffin, 5 µm thick sections were cut from the middle of the tissue and mounted on silanized slides.