Search the CONFOCAL archive at
http://listserv.acsu.buffalo.edu/cgi-bin/wa?S1=confocal

If you don't want to stain the lipids, then you have to know a bit  
more about the specific cells you are trying to stain.  If they make  
tight junctions, a ZO1 antibody might work, or a pancadherin  
antibody.  Just a phalloidin stain for F-actin is fast and easy, and  
often stains the perimeter of confluent cells. You could also try  
antibodies to the neuronal forms of spectrin, which might light up  
the edges of the plasma mambrane.

Hope this helps, and please post what ends up working best!

Tim O'Brien
UNC Chapel Hill



On Feb 13, 2008, at 5:49 AM, Christophe Leterrier wrote:

> Search the CONFOCAL archive at http://listserv.acsu.buffalo.edu/cgi- 
> bin/wa?S1=confocal Dear all,
>
> I would like to stain the plasma membrane of fixed adherent cells  
> (COS, 293, hippocampal neurons in culture). The best would be a  
> good primary antibody that labels the plasma membrane after  
> fixation, either with paraformaldehyde or methanol, as we could  
> just add the primary/corresponding secondary antibodies to the  
> immunocytochemistry procedure, without adding any steps. I don't  
> like lipid dyes such as liquid DiL because I never got good results  
> with them for this kind of work, even with fixable versions.
>
> Thanks for your suggestions,
>
> Christophe Leterrier
>
>