Low- and High-Voltage Activated Ca Channels in Vertebrate Cultured Neurons: Properties and Functions

Mature human dental enamel has presented investigators with several difficulties in ultramicrotomy of specimens for electron microscopy due to its high degree of mineralization. This study explores the possibility of combining ion-milling and high voltage electron microscopy as a means of circumventing the problems of ultramicrotomy.A longitudinal section of an extracted human third molar was ground to a thickness of about 30 um and polarized light micrographs were taken. The specimen was attached to a single hole grid and thinned by argon-ion bombardment at 15° incidence while rotating at 15 rpm. The beam current in each of two guns was 50 μA with an accelerating voltage of 4 kV. A 20 nm carbon coating was evaporated onto the specimen to prevent an electron charge from building up during electron microscopy.

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Three-Dimensional Visualization of the T-System of Frog Muscle Using High Voltage Electron Microscopy and a Lanthanum Stain

Proceedings, annual meeting, Electron Microscopy Society of America ◽

10.1017/s0424820100080286 ◽

1977 ◽

Vol 35 ◽

pp. 570-571 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Lee D. Peachey ◽

Clara Franzini-Armstrong

Keyword(s):

Electron Microscopy ◽

High Voltage ◽

Three Dimensional ◽

Biological Tissues ◽

High Voltage Electron Microscopy ◽

Transverse Tubular System ◽

Peroxidase Reaction ◽

Voltage Electron ◽

High Voltage Electron ◽

T System

The effective study of biological tissues in thick slices of embedded material by high voltage electron microscopy (HVEM) requires highly selective staining of those structures to be visualized so that they are not hidden or obscured by other structures in the image. A tilt pair of micrographs with subsequent stereoscopic viewing can be an important aid in three-dimensional visualization of these images, once an appropriate stain has been found. The peroxidase reaction has been used for this purpose in visualizing the T-system (transverse tubular system) of frog skeletal muscle by HVEM (1). We have found infiltration with lanthanum hydroxide to be particularly useful for three-dimensional visualization of certain aspects of the structure of the T- system in skeletal muscles of the frog. Specifically, lanthanum more completely fills the lumen of the tubules and is denser than the peroxidase reaction product.

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Resolution, Contrast and Interpretation of HVEM Images of Crystals

Proceedings, annual meeting, Electron Microscopy Society of America ◽

10.1017/s0424820100071582 ◽

1973 ◽

Vol 31 ◽

pp. 228-229

Author(s):

L. E. Thomas ◽

J. S. Lally ◽

R. M. Fisher

Keyword(s):

High Voltage ◽

Chromatic Aberration ◽

Crystalline Materials ◽

Resolution Parameter ◽

Instrument Resolution ◽

Imaging Conditions ◽

Beam Excitation ◽

Optimum Imaging

In addition to improved penetration at high voltage, the characteristics of HVEM images of crystalline materials are changed markedly as a result of many-beam excitation effects. This leads to changes in optimum imaging conditions for dislocations, planar faults, precipitates and other features.Resolution - Because of longer focal lengths and correspondingly larger aberrations, the usual instrument resolution parameter, CS174 λ 374 changes by only a factor of 2 from 100 kV to 1 MV. Since 90% of this change occurs below 500 kV any improvement in “classical” resolution in the MVEM is insignificant. However, as is widely recognized, an improvement in resolution for “thick” specimens (i.e. more than 1000 Å) due to reduced chromatic aberration is very large.

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Radiation-Induced Precipitation at Thin Foil Surfaces in Ni-Be Alloys

Proceedings, annual meeting, Electron Microscopy Society of America ◽

10.1017/s0424820100055217 ◽

1982 ◽

Vol 40 ◽

pp. 598-599

Author(s):

T. Mukai ◽

T. E. Mitchell

Keyword(s):

Electron Microscopy ◽

High Voltage ◽

Electron Irradiation ◽

High Vacuum ◽

Thin Foil ◽

Homogeneous Precipitation ◽

High Voltage Electron Microscopy ◽

Voltage Electron ◽

High Voltage Electron ◽

Radiation Induced

Radiation-induced homogeneous precipitation in Ni-Be alloys was recently observed by high voltage electron microscopy. A coupling of interstitial flux with solute Be atoms is responsible for the precipitation. The present investigation further shows that precipitation is also induced at thin foil surfaces by electron irradiation under a high vacuum.

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The Reduction of Chromatic Aberrations Due to Instrumental Instabilities

Proceedings, annual meeting, Electron Microscopy Society of America ◽

10.1017/s0424820100064128 ◽

1971 ◽

Vol 29 ◽

pp. 14-15

Author(s):

J. S. Lally ◽

R. Evans

Keyword(s):

Electron Microscope ◽

High Voltage ◽

Focal Length ◽

Chromatic Aberration ◽

Objective Lens ◽

Usual Practice ◽

Voltage Electron ◽

Short Focal Length ◽

Chromatic Aberrations ◽

Electron Microscopes

One of the instrumental factors often limiting the resolution of the electron microscope is image defocussing due to changes in accelerating voltage or objective lens current. This factor is particularly important in high voltage electron microscopes both because of the higher voltages and lens currents required but also because of the inherently longer focal lengths, i.e. 6 mm in contrast to 1.5-2.2 mm for modern short focal length objectives.The usual practice in commercial electron microscopes is to design separately stabilized accelerating voltage and lens supplies. In this case chromatic aberration in the image is caused by the random and independent fluctuations of both the high voltage and objective lens current.

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Some Biological Applications of High Voltage Electron Microscopy

Proceedings, annual meeting, Electron Microscopy Society of America ◽

10.1017/s0424820100051505 ◽

1974 ◽

Vol 32 ◽

pp. 298-299

Author(s):

Hans Ris

Keyword(s):

High Voltage ◽

Chromosome Structure ◽

Nerve Fibers ◽

Good Resolution ◽

High Voltage Electron Microscopy ◽

Voltage Electron ◽

University Of Wisconsin ◽

High Voltage Electron ◽

One Year ◽

The University

The High Voltage Electron Microscope Laboratory at the University of Wisconsin has been in operation a little over one year. I would like to give a progress report about our experience with this new technique. The achievement of good resolution with thick specimens has been mainly exploited so far. A cold stage which will allow us to look at frozen specimens and a hydration stage are now being installed in our microscope. This will soon make it possible to study undehydrated specimens, a particularly exciting application of the high voltage microscope.Some of the problems studied at the Madison facility are: Structure of kinetoplast and flagella in trypanosomes (J. Paulin, U. of Georgia); growth cones of nerve fibers (R. Hannah, U. of Georgia Medical School); spiny dendrites in cerebellum of mouse (Scott and Guillery, Anatomy, U. of Wis.); spindle of baker's yeast (Joan Peterson, Madison) spindle of Haemanthus (A. Bajer, U. of Oregon, Eugene) chromosome structure (Hans Ris, U. of Wisconsin, Madison). Dr. Paulin and Dr. Hanna are reporting their work separately at this meeting and I shall therefore not discuss it here.

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