Several techniques are employed to detect target molecules:
Immunohistochemistry (IHC): Uses antibodies to bind to specific antigens in tissue sections. This method is highly specific and allows for the visualization of the localization and abundance of target proteins. In situ hybridization (ISH): Detects specific nucleic acid sequences within the tissue by hybridizing a labeled complementary strand of DNA or RNA. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA): Although not a direct histological technique, it can be used on tissue extracts to quantify specific proteins. Western blotting: Similarly to ELISA, it's used on tissue lysates to detect and quantify proteins but offers additional information on the molecular weight of the target protein.
