VECTASHIELD® Mounting Media are unsurpassed in
preventing photobleaching. The different formulations of
VECTASHIELD® Mounting Media all offer the same outstanding
anti-fade and anti-photobleaching properties. They are all
compatible with fluorescein, Texas Red®, AMCA, DyLight®
dyes, Alexa Fluor® dyes, fluorescent nuclear stains, fluorescent
proteins, fluorescent tracers, histochemical stains, and most
fluorochromes.
Features of VECTASHIELD® Mounting Media:
Inhibit photobleaching of most fluorochromes
Available in non-hardening or hardening formulations
Available with or without DAPI or propidium iodide
No warming necessary
Slides can be viewed after prolonged storage
Continues to inhibit photobleaching after prolonged storage
of mounted slides
Easy to use
Optically clear
Ideal refractive index
The original VECTASHIELD® Mounting Medium is a glycerol-based,
aqueous mountant that does not solidify but remains
a viscous liquid on the slide. After mounting, coverslipped
slides will not readily dry out and can be reviewed for weeks
afterwards without sealing. For prolonged storage, coverslips
can be permanently sealed around the perimeter with nail
polish. Mounted slides should be stored at 4 ºC.
VECTASHIELD® Mounting Media are compatible with a wide array of fluorochromes, enzymatic substrates, and fluorescent proteins. Please consult the compatibility table (located in product information box) to determine if VECTASHIELD® will be compatible in your system.
Please note: VECTASHIELD® Mounting Medium may not be compatible with all enzymatic substrates or fluorescent proteins and test sections would be advisable when using anything other than commonly used fluorochromes.
The refractive index for VECTASHIELD® Mounting Medium is 1.44.
1R.J. Florijn, et. al. Cytometry, 19 (1995) 177-182.
VECTASHIELD® Mounting Medium Antifade Comparison
Other manufacturers measure the antifade properties of their mountants using labeled microspheres or arrayed spots. Vector Labs prefers to measure antifade properties of VECTASHIELD® mountants using frozen tissue sections immunohistochemically stained with fluorescently labeled secondary antibodies.
Antifade capability is measured using a 40x objective with real time imaging over 30 seconds of continuous exposure to the excitation illumination. Individual intensity measurements are recorded from 6 separate labeled regions and the average is calculated. The intensity after 30 second exposure is expressed as a percentage of the intensity at zero time. The values for PG are taken from the manufacturer’s published results.
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