Studying lipid rafts in histology involves a combination of techniques:
1. Fluorescent Labeling: Lipid rafts can be visualized using fluorescently labeled lipid and protein markers specific to raft domains. This allows for imaging using confocal microscopy.
2. Detergent-Resistant Membranes (DRM): Lipid rafts are resistant to solubilization by non-ionic detergents at low temperatures. This property is utilized to isolate rafts by detergent extraction and subsequent ultracentrifugation.
3. Advanced Imaging Techniques: Techniques such as super-resolution microscopy and atomic force microscopy (AFM) provide high-resolution images of lipid raft structures and their dynamics within the membrane.
