scholarly journals An easy, fast and inexpensive method of preparing a biological specimen for scanning electron microscopy (SEM)

MethodsX ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 101521
Author(s):  
Rizwan Ali ◽  
Kheireddine El-Boubbou ◽  
Mohamed Boudjelal
Keyword(s):  
Electron Microscopy ◽  
Scanning Electron Microscopy ◽  
Inexpensive Method ◽  
Biological Specimen ◽  
Scanning Electron

Artifacts from dehydration and drying in biological specimen preparation for scanning electron microscopy

1991 ◽  
Vol 49 ◽  
pp. 342-343
Author(s):  
R. F. E. Crang
Keyword(s):  
Electron Microscopy ◽  
Scanning Electron Microscopy ◽  
Biological Sample ◽  
Specimen Preparation ◽  
Biological Specimen ◽  
Ways Of Coping ◽  
Limited Experience ◽  
Specialized Equipment ◽  
Common Problems ◽  
Scanning Electron

Experienced electron microscopists recognize that common problems can exist if care is not taken with biological sample preparation, but such situations may not often be recognized by students or technicians with limited experience. The problems encountered in biological SEM specimen preparation may involve all steps in obtaining the tissue, fixing and/or washing it, dehydration, drying, mounting or coating. Specifically, attention in this presentation is directed at problems and techniques in dehydration and drying. Although some of the remedies require specialized equipment, most suggested ways of coping with problems are based on procedures which involve only commonly available supplies and facilities.

Pathogenesis of Human Hair Defects

1974 ◽  
Vol 32 ◽  
pp. 12-13
Author(s):  
P.S. Porter ◽  
T. Aoyagi ◽  
R. Matta
Keyword(s):  
Electron Microscopy ◽  
Scanning Electron Microscopy ◽  
Human Hair ◽  
Standard Techniques ◽  
Scanning Electron

Using standard techniques of scanning electron microscopy (SEM), over 1000 human hair defects have been studied. In several of the defects, the pathogenesis of the abnormality has been clarified using these techniques. It is the purpose of this paper to present several distinct morphologic abnormalities of hair and to discuss their pathogenesis as elucidated through techniques of scanning electron microscopy.

Ultrastructural Analysis of the Salivary Glands of Gromphadorhina Portentosa (Schaum)

1977 ◽  
Vol 35 ◽  
pp. 638-639
Author(s):  
P.J. Dailey
Keyword(s):  
Electron Microscopy ◽  
Scanning Electron Microscopy ◽  
Salivary Glands ◽  
Secretory Vesicles ◽  
The Past ◽  
Transmission Electron ◽  
Means Of Transmission ◽  
Gromphadorhina Portentosa ◽  
Scanning Electron ◽  
Topographical Relief

The structure of insect salivary glands has been extensively investigated during the past decade; however, none have attempted scanning electron microscopy (SEM) in ultrastructural examinations of these secretory organs. This study correlates fine structure by means of SEM cryofractography with that of thin-sectioned epoxy embedded material observed by means of transmission electron microscopy (TEM).Salivary glands of Gromphadorhina portentosa were excised and immediately submerged in cold (4°C) paraformaldehyde-glutaraldehyde fixative1 for 2 hr, washed and post-fixed in 1 per cent 0s04 in phosphosphate buffer (4°C for 2 hr). After ethanolic dehydration half of the samples were embedded in Epon 812 for TEM and half cryofractured and subsequently critical point dried for SEM. Dried specimens were mounted on aluminum stubs and coated with approximately 150 Å of gold in a cold sputtering apparatus.Figure 1 shows a cryofractured plane through a salivary acinus revealing topographical relief of secretory vesicles.

Two- or three-way observations of the identical cell elements within the same sections by LM, TEM and/or SEM

1978 ◽  
Vol 36 (2) ◽  
pp. 82-83 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nakazo Watari ◽  
Yasuaki Hotta ◽  
Yoshio Mabuchi
Keyword(s):  
Electron Microscopy ◽  
Scanning Electron Microscopy ◽  
Transmission Electron Microscopy ◽  
Fine Structure ◽  
Light Microscopy ◽  
Thin Sections ◽  
Transmission Electron ◽  
Identical Cell ◽  
Electron Microscopes ◽  
Scanning Electron

It is very useful if we can observe the identical cell elements within the same sections by light microscopy (LM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and/or scanning electron microscopy (SEM) sequentially, because, the cell fine structure can not be indicated by LM, while the color is; on the other hand, the cell fine structure can be very easily observed by EM, although its color properties may not. However, there is one problem in that LM requires thick sections of over 1 μm, while EM needs very thin sections of under 100 nm. Recently, we have developed a new method to observe the same cell elements within the same plastic sections using both light and transmission (conventional or high-voltage) electron microscopes.In this paper, we have developed two new observation methods for the identical cell elements within the same sections, both plastic-embedded and paraffin-embedded, using light microscopy, transmission electron microscopy and/or scanning electron microscopy (Fig. 1).

Spontaneous Cataract in Nude Athymic Mice

1977 ◽  
Vol 35 ◽  
pp. 512-513
Author(s):  
Ronald H. Bradley ◽  
R. S. Berk ◽  
L. D. Hazlett
Keyword(s):  
Electron Microscopy ◽  
Scanning Electron Microscopy ◽  
Nude Mouse ◽  
Cellular Immunity ◽  
Phosphate Buffer ◽  
Osmium Tetroxide ◽  
Athymic Mice ◽  
Transmission Microscopy ◽  
Mouse Lens ◽  
Scanning Electron

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.

Scanning and Transmission Microscopy of Nematocyst Batteries in Epitheliomuscular Cells of Hydra

1971 ◽  
Vol 29 ◽  
pp. 410-411 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jane A. Westfall ◽  
S. Yamataka ◽  
Paul D. Enos
Keyword(s):  
Electron Microscopy ◽  
Scanning Electron Microscopy ◽  
Osmium Tetroxide ◽  
External Surface ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Surface Structures ◽  
Transmission Microscopy ◽  
Transmission Electron ◽  
Freeze Dried ◽  
Scanning Electron

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).

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