• All IHC stains will include a positive control tissue

• Tau is used to identify neurofibrillary tangles in Alzheimer's disease^1-2 and in a family of neurodegenerative disorders collectively referred to as Tauopathies³
• Alzheimer's disease is usually associated with a stereotyped progression of neurofibrillary pathology, with NFTs involving trans-entorhinal structures, limbic system, and finally isocortex^1-2
• Small numbers of NFTs are seen in cognitively normal elderly⁴

Submit a formalin-fixed, paraffin embedded tissue block

Formalin-fixed, paraffin embedded (FFPE) tissue block

FFPE tissue section mounted on a charged, unstained slide

Ambient (preferred)

• Unlabeled/mislabeled block
• Insufficient tissue
• Slides broken beyond repair

Immunohistochemical staining and microscopic examination

If requested, an interpretive report will be provided

Specifications

• Tau protein is a microtubule associated protein present in normal brain and neuronal diseases
• Tau is present in the axons of the central and peripheral nervous system
• Accumulations of Tau are present in neurodegenerative diseases in the form of cytoplasmic neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs)

Staining pattern

• Cytoplasmic

References

1. Braak H, Braak E. Neuropathological staging of Alzheimer-related changes. Acta Neuropathol (Berl) 1991;82:239-59.
2. Braak H, Braak E, Bohl J. Staging of Alzheimer-related cortical destruction. Eur Neurol 1993;33:403-8.
3. Dickson DW, Neuro-degeneration: The Molecular Pathology of Dementia and Movement Disorders, ISN Neuropath Press, Basel 2003, 414 pp.
4. Knopman DS, et al. Neuropathology of cognitively normal elderly. J Neuropathol Exp Neurol 2003;62(11):1087-95.