Use of membrane filters and osmium tetroxide etching in the preparation of sperm for scanning electron microscopy

1989 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 65-70 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gerhard Van Der Horst ◽  
Robert M. Kitchin ◽  
Patrick T. Curry ◽  
Robert W. Atherton
Author(s):  
Ronald H. Bradley ◽  
R. S. Berk ◽  
L. D. Hazlett

The nude mouse is a hairless mutant (homozygous for the mutation nude, nu/nu), which is born lacking a thymus and possesses a severe defect in cellular immunity. Spontaneous unilateral cataractous lesions were noted (during ocular examination using a stereomicroscope at 40X) in 14 of a series of 60 animals (20%). This transmission and scanning microscopic study characterizes the morphology of this cataract and contrasts these data with normal nude mouse lens.All animals were sacrificed by an ether overdose. Eyes were enucleated and immersed in a mixed fixative (1% osmium tetroxide and 6% glutaraldehyde in Sorenson's phosphate buffer pH 7.4 at 0-4°C) for 3 hours, dehydrated in graded ethanols and embedded in Epon-Araldite for transmission microscopy. Specimens for scanning electron microscopy were fixed similarly, dehydrated in graded ethanols, then to graded changes of Freon 113 and ethanol to 100% Freon 113 and critically point dried in a Bomar critical point dryer using Freon 13 as the transition fluid.


Author(s):  
Jane A. Westfall ◽  
S. Yamataka ◽  
Paul D. Enos

Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) provides three dimensional details of external surface structures and supplements ultrastructural information provided by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Animals composed of watery jellylike tissues such as hydras and other coelenterates have not been considered suitable for SEM studies because of the difficulty in preserving such organisms in a normal state. This study demonstrates 1) the successful use of SEM on such tissue, and 2) the unique arrangement of batteries of nematocysts within large epitheliomuscular cells on tentacles of Hydra littoralis.Whole specimens of Hydra were prepared for SEM (Figs. 1 and 2) by the fix, freeze-dry, coat technique of Small and Màrszalek. The specimens were fixed in osmium tetroxide and mercuric chloride, freeze-dried in vacuo on a prechilled 1 Kg brass block, and coated with gold-palladium. Tissues for TEM (Figs. 3 and 4) were fixed in glutaraldehyde followed by osmium tetroxide. Scanning micrographs were taken on a Cambridge Stereoscan Mark II A microscope at 10 KV and transmission micrographs were taken on an RCA EMU 3G microscope (Fig. 3) or on a Hitachi HU 11B microscope (Fig. 4).


Author(s):  
J R Santos-Mallet ◽  
T D Balthazar ◽  
A A Oliveira ◽  
W A Marques ◽  
A Q Bastos ◽  
...  

Abstract The aim of the present study was to describe the morphology of the eggs of Culex (Culex) saltanensis Dyar that occurs in the Neotropical region. Eggs of the Cx. (Cux.) saltanensis were collected at the Mata Atlântica FIOCRUZ campus, fixed in 1% osmium tetroxide, prepared for mounting on metal supports, observed under a scanning electron microscope, and described morphologically. The eggs had a coniform shape with a length of approximately 0.5 mm (505–510 µm) and a width in the median portion of 117 µm (113–123 µm). Upper portion is lined with tubers of irregular shape and varying sizes (0.64–1.31 µm), located on a cross-linked matrix forming bands observed under optical microscopy. The micropyle is encased in a necklace of approximately 6.6-µm plates arranged in a flower-like shape. Comparing Cx. (Cux.) saltanensis eggs with several species of different genera, important divergent characteristics can be observed. However, this study points to the need for new descriptions of eggs of species belonging to the same subgenus in order to analyze if there will be differences between them. Culex (Cux.) saltanensis eggs have particular characteristics not observed in eggs of other Culicidae genera.


2000 ◽  
Vol 6 (S2) ◽  
pp. 844-845
Author(s):  
O.J. Castejón ◽  
R. P. Apkarian ◽  
H. V. Castejón

Samples of albino mice cerebellar cortex were processed by the cryofracture method for scanning electron microscopy and examined with the field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM). Albino mouse cerebellar cortex was excised, cut into 1-2 mm slices and inmersed in 4% glutaraldehyde in O. l M phosphate buffer solution, pH 7.4, for 24h at 4°C; and postfixed for 1 h in a similarly buffered 1% osmium tetroxide solution. Specimens were dehydrated in a graded serie of ethanol (30, 50, 70, 80, 90 2x100%) prior to wrapping individual tissue pieces in preformed absolute ethanol filled parafilm cryofracture packets. Rapid freezing of packets was performed by plunging into LN2. First, the packet was transferred from the LN2 storage vessel with LNT chilled forceps in order to avoid themial damage. Secondly, the cooled fracture blade was removed from the LN2, the packet was orientated under the blade, and immediately struck with a heavy tool.


1985 ◽  
Vol 31 (1) ◽  
pp. 16-18 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeffrey M. Farber ◽  
Anthony N. Sharpe ◽  
Miloslav Kalab

In the absence of food debris, Sartorius and Millipore HA filters recovered substantially fewer fecal coliforms from Ottawa River water than did Millipore HC. On addition of a small quantity of sterile blended carrot to water samples, recovery by the poorer filters equalled that on Millipore HC. Scanning electron microscopy revealed bacteria sheltered in crevices formed by carrot fibres and thus protected from the normal stresses of exposure. Addition of carrot debris (e.g., 0.03 g carrot to 100 mL of sample) thus provides a convenient and inexpensive means of reducing variations in fecal coliform recovery between brands of membrane filters.


1980 ◽  
Vol 58 (15) ◽  
pp. 1700-1703 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. C. Quattlebaum ◽  
G. R. Carner

Vapor fixation for 96 h with 1% osmium tetroxide (OsO4) and 3–4 days air drying produced distortion-free specimens of Beauveria spp. for examination with the scanning electron microscope. A combination of 4 h OsO4 vapor fixation and freeze-drying also reduced disruption satisfactorily but specimens were not as well preserved as with the first method. Preparation methods that were ineffective in preventing collapse of hydrophilic structures were Cling Free® sprayed on specimens prior to examination, freeze-drying, critical-point drying (of unfixed material), and vapor fixation with glutaraldehyde.


Author(s):  
Gen Takahashi

Ruthenium tetroxide(RuO4) was first used as a stain in histology by Ranvier in 1887. Its use in TEM as a fixative or stain was reported by Gaylarde et al. However,the preservation of the cellular ultrastructure was very poor after RuO4 fixation alone, because RuO4 is a far more vigorous oxidant than osmium tetroxide. Peltari et al reported that a preceeding glutaraldehyde fixation helped to stabilize the ultrastructure, although the penetration of RuO4 into the tissue was poor.In the present study, RuO4 has been found to be a useful fixative and staining reagent with the prerequisite of using RuO4 as a postfixative after prefixation with tannic acid (TA)-glutaraldehyde(GL) for thin-section TEM(TA-RuO4 method) or after preceeding osmication followed by TA mordanting for non-coating SEM(OsO4-TA-RuO4 method).TA-RuO4 method for thin-section TEM


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