Vector Laboratories
Vectashield Hardset Mounting Medium with DAPI
H-1500
This product is used to stain nuclei of neurons in mounted tissue sections isolated from the midbrain of MPTP-intoxicated mice. It is easy to use and coverslip the slides and when viewed under a microscope the DAPI is very bright. However, the DAPI starts to fade and turn the slide an odd shade of light brown after a few months when the slides are stored at room temp or 4 degrees.
Immunohistochemistry/Immunofluorescence
Brain tissue
Mount tissue sections onto slides and allow to dry completely (at least 30 minutes). Drop 2 - 3 drops of vectashield onto the slide and put coverslip on. Smooth out coverslip to remove any bubbles. Allow slides to dry at room temp for several hours to set mounting medium.
Don't use too much Vectashield. Allow coverslipped slides to sit at room temp so mouting media hardents. Store slides at -20 degrees C if more than 3 months
I get good nuclear staining of neurons, but I know if I want to go back and look at the slides more than a month later the tissues will not be in the same condition as when I mounted them. So you need to mount and analyze your tissue very soon after cover-slipping.
None
Easy to use, bright staining
Not good for long-time storage of slides
If you need something that is going to preserve the integrity and fluorescent signal of your tissues for more than a month I wouldn't use this.