The application of BDA involves several steps. First, it is injected into the desired tissue, where it is taken up by neurons. Due to its biotin component, BDA can be easily detected using avidin-biotin complex (ABC) techniques. The dextran moiety ensures that the tracer is retained within the cells, allowing for long-term studies. Typically, sections of the tissue are then sliced and subjected to histochemical reactions to visualize the tracer.
