Overview of Cell Fixatives and Cell Membrane Permeants

The localization of proteins and carbohydrates within cells and tissues with specific antibodies has long been proven to be a valuable technique. Immunolocalization procedures allow one to detect not only well-characterized cellular structures but also provide information about newly characterized proteins and carbohydrates. This chapter will review some of the advantages and drawbacks of common chemical fixation and permeabilization methods used for immunolocalization at the level of light microscopy.