Cryosectioning and Immunohistochemistry of Peripheral Tissues of Mosquitoes

Abstract

Immunohistochemistry analysis of mosquitoes is complicated by the outer cuticle that prevents reagents from penetrating peripheral tissues. This protocol incorporates a cryosectioning method that provides a higher resolution of the internal architecture of mosquito peripheral sensory tissues and enables the visualization of protein expression. This eliminates the need for enzymatic steps to digest the outer cuticle that encases these tissues. This protocol can also be adapted for other tissues, such as the brain and the legs, as chitin exoskeleton thickness does not affect antibody penetration once the sample is sectioned.