Methods used in the lab
Immunocytohistochemistry
Distinct layers contain the three main cell types in the OE: Supporting cells, ORNs, basal stem cells.
Antibodies are exquisite tools to stain specific proteins in tissues or single cells. Differential staining of cellular or subcellular structures is indispensable to identify protein expression patterns and/or distinguish morphological structures. In our lab mainly secondary antibodies tagged with fluorescent dyes are used to visualize antibody stainings using for example confocal microscopy. Antibody staining can easily be complemented with other staining methods, like biocytin backtracing of olfactory sensory neurons through the olfactory nerve or staining of cell nuclei with DAPI.