En bloc staining available for stereoscopic observation of epoxy resin Quetol 651-embedded thick sections under a 300 kV TEM

1990 ◽  
Vol 48 (3) ◽  
pp. 740-741
Author(s):  
Tsuyuka Kushida ◽  
Haruyuki Iijima ◽  
Hiroshi Kushida ◽  
Chusei Tsuruta
Keyword(s):  
Epoxy Resin ◽  
Room Temperature ◽  
Osmium Tetroxide ◽  
Uranyl Acetate ◽  
List Type ◽  
Distilled Water ◽  
Thick Section ◽  
En Bloc ◽  
Fixed Tissue ◽  
Stereoscopic Observation

A staining method has been devised for easy en bloc staining for stereoscopic observation of epoxy resin Quetol 651-embedded thick sections under a 300 kV transmission microscope (TEM). In order to enhance staining properties in thick section, osmium tetroxide-fixed tissue blocks are stained only en bloc, since the images of both sides in thick section give high contrast and the image of an intermediate layer shows low contrast by double staining.This method uses carbohydrazide (Polysciences, Inc., U.S.A.) as osmium bridging agent, and both osmium tetroxide and uranyl acetate as electron staining agents.The following procedure is suitable for en bloc staining. 1.Fix small tissue blocks in 2% cacodylate-buffered osmium tetroxide (pH 7.4) for 3 hours at 4°C.2.Wash well in buffer for 1 hour.3.Transfer in 1% aqueous carbohydrazide for 2 hours at room temperature.4.Wash well in distilled water for 1 hour.5.Stain in 1% aqueous osmium tetroxide for 2 hours at room temperature.6.Wash well in distilled water for 1 hour.7.Dehydrate in 50% alcohol for 1 hour.8.Stain in a 2.5% solution of uranyl acetate in 50% alcohol for 3 hours at room temperature.9.Wash in 50% alcohol for 1 hour.10.Dehydrate with 60%, 70%, 80%, 90% and 100% (2 changes) alcohols for 30 minutes each.11.Embed in a mixture of Quetol 651 (Nissin EM Co., Ltd., Japan), nonenyl succinic anhydride, methyl nadic anhydride and DMP-30 according to the method of Kushida et al.

Uranyl Acetate Preservation of Nucleoplasm in the Sporocytes of Psilotum

1981 ◽  
Vol 39 ◽  
pp. 650-651
Author(s):  
Kit W. Lee
Keyword(s):  
Propylene Oxide ◽  
Room Temperature ◽  
Osmium Tetroxide ◽  
Developmental Stages ◽  
Uranyl Acetate ◽  
Distilled Water ◽  
Nuclear Region ◽  
Membrane Systems ◽  
Thin Sections ◽  
High Affinity

As a stain, uranyl acetate (UA) is used on thin sections to enhance the contrast of cellular constituents. It has been shown that the use of uranyl acetate in the fixation process can increase the contrast and preservation of various membrane systems by reducing the extraction of phospholipids during dehydration. Because of its high affinity for nucleic acids, uranyl acetate has also been used as a post fixative to preserve the nuclear region of prokaryotes. This paper compares the nuclei of the eukaryote Psilotum, particularly during meiosis, with and without post fixation with uranyl acetate.Sporangia at different developmental stages were fixed in cold 3% glutaral-dehyde (GA) in 0.1 M phosphate buffer (pH 7.2) for 4 hours or overnight, and post fixed at room temperature with 2% osmium tetroxide (OsO4) for 2 hours. After washing in distilled water, samples were either (a) dehydrated in a graded series of ethanols and propylene oxide, or (b) placed in 1% aqueous uranyl acetate for 1 hour, followed by 30 minutes washing in distilled water before dehydration.

scholarly journals ULTRATHIN FROZEN SECTIONS

1967 ◽  
Vol 34 (3) ◽  
pp. 757-771 ◽  
Author(s):  
W. Bernhard ◽  
Elizabeth H. Leduc
Keyword(s):  
Electron Microscopy ◽  
Room Temperature ◽  
Osmium Tetroxide ◽  
Phosphotungstic Acid ◽  
Cultured Cells ◽  
Uranyl Acetate ◽  
Distilled Water ◽  
Frozen Sections ◽  
Simple Method ◽  
Ultrathin Frozen Sections

A relatively simple method for obtaining ultrathin, frozen sections for electron microscopy has been developed. Tissues, cultured cells, and bacteria may be employed. They are fixed in 1.25–4% glutaraldehyde for 1–4 hr, are washed overnight in buffer at 3°C, and are embedded in 20% thiolated gelatin or pure gelatin. Before sectioning they are partially dehydrated in 50% glycerol, frozen in liquid nitrogen on a modified tissue holder, and subsequently maintained at -70°C with dry ice. Finally, they are sectioned very rapidly with glass knives on a slightly modified Porter-Blum MT-1 microtome in a commercial deep-freeze maintained at -35°C and are floated in the trough of the knife on a 40% solution of dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO). The sections are picked up in plastic loops and transferred to distilled water at room temperature for thawing and removal of the DMSO, placed on grids coated with Formvar and carbon, air-dried, and stained with phosphotungstic acid, sodium silicotungstate, or a triple stain of osmium tetroxide, uranyl acetate, and lead. Large flat sections are obtained in which ultrastructural preservation is good. They are particularly useful for cytochemical studies.

scholarly journals Block-staining tissues with potassium ferrocyanide-reduced osmium tetroxide and lead aspartate for electron microscopic radioautography.

1984 ◽  
Vol 32 (5) ◽  
pp. 552-554 ◽  
Author(s):  
B M Kopriwa
Keyword(s):  
Room Temperature ◽  
Osmium Tetroxide ◽  
Uranyl Acetate ◽  
Potassium Ferrocyanide ◽  
Electron Microscopic ◽  
En Bloc ◽  
Simple Method ◽  
Electron Microscopic Radioautography

In the hope of devising a method for prestaining tissues en bloc for electron microscopic radioautography, pieces of radioiodine-labeled liver were taken through various combinations of ferrocyanide-reduced osmium tetroxide, lead aspartate, and aqueous uranyl acetate at room temperature or at 60 degrees C. Following the tests, the method adopted for routine use was to block-stain tissues for 2 hr in potassium ferrocyanide-reduced osmium tetroxide at 4 degrees C followed by 1 hr in Walton's lead aspartate at room temperature. This simple method, which requires no manipulation before or after emulsion coating and development of the radioautographs, provides adequate contrast without inducing background fog or artifacts.

Cellular Contacts Within the Interhemal Membrane of the Rat Placenta at Term

1974 ◽  
Vol 32 ◽  
pp. 146-147
Author(s):  
William P. Jollie
Keyword(s):  
Osmium Tetroxide ◽  
Uranyl Acetate ◽  
Capillary Endothelium ◽  
En Bloc ◽  
Aldehyde Fixation ◽  
Chorioallantoic Placenta

By routine EM preparative techniques, the tissues which, collectively, separate maternal and fetal bloods in the fully formed chorioallantoic placenta of the rat have been shown to consist of three chorionic layers, or trophoblast, and a layer of allantoic capillary endothelium [Fig. 1]. Relationships between these layers are best demonstrated by special techniques, viz., cacodylate-buffered aldehyde fixation, collidine-buffered osmium tetroxide postfixation, and en bloc staining with uranyl acetate. By using this method on placentas at term, the cells of the outermost chorionic layer (Trophoblast 1) appear to be attached to each other by means of maculae adherentes which sometimes occur in clusters [Fig. 2].

Ultrastructural comparison of prolactin adenomas of pituitary in men and women

1988 ◽  
Vol 46 ◽  
pp. 346-347
Author(s):  
R.C. Caughey ◽  
U.P. Kalyan-Raman
Keyword(s):  
Endoplasmic Reticulum ◽  
Electron Microscope ◽  
Phosphate Buffer ◽  
Pituitary Adenomas ◽  
Osmium Tetroxide ◽  
Secretory Granules ◽  
Uranyl Acetate ◽  
En Bloc ◽  
Men And Women ◽  
Transmission Electron

Prolactin producing pituitary adenomas are ultrastructurally characterized by secretory granules varying in size (150-300nm), abundance of endoplasmic reticulum, and misplaced exocytosis. They are also subclassified as sparsely or densely granulated according to the amount of granules present. The hormone levels in men and women vary, being higher in men; so also the symptoms vary between both sexes. In order to understand this variation, we studied 21 prolactin producing pituitary adenomas by transmission electron microscope. This was out of a total of 80 pituitary adenomas. There were 6 men and 15 women in this group of 21 prolactinomas.All of the pituitary adenomas were fixed in 2.5% glutaraldehyde, rinsed in Millonig's phosphate buffer, and post fixed with 1% osmium tetroxide. They were then en bloc stained with 0.5% uranyl acetate, rinsed with Walpole's non-phosphate buffer, dehydrated with graded series of ethanols and embedded with Epon 812 epoxy resin.

Observations of thick and thin sections in a field-emission SEM

1994 ◽  
Vol 52 ◽  
pp. 1018-1019
Author(s):  
W. P. Wergin ◽  
S. Roy ◽  
E. F. Erbe ◽  
C. A. Murphy ◽  
C. D. Pooley
Keyword(s):  
Electron Microscope ◽  
Field Emission ◽  
Room Temperature ◽  
Osmium Tetroxide ◽  
Uranyl Acetate ◽  
Chemical Fixation ◽  
Thin Sections ◽  
Transmission Electron ◽  
Conventional Transmission Electron Microscope ◽  
Scanning Electron

Larvae of the nematode, Steinernema carpocapsae Weiser strain All, were cryofixed and freezesubstituted for 3 days in acetone containing 2% osmium tetroxide according to established procedures. Following chemical fixation, the nematodes were brought to room temperature, embedded in Spurr's medium and sectioned for observation with a Hitachi S-4100 field emission scanning electron microscope that was equipped with an Oxford CT 1500 Cryotrans System. Thin sections, about 80 nm thick, similar to those generally used in conventional transmission electron microscope (TEM) studies were mounted on copper grids and stained with uranyl acetate for 30 min and lead citrate for 5 min. Sections about 2 μm thick were also mounted and stained in a similar fashion. The grids were mounted on an Oxford grid holder, inserted into the microscope and onto a cryostage that was operated at ambient temperature. Thick and thin sections of the larvae were evaluated and photographed in the SEM at different accelerating voltages. Figs. 4 and 5 have undergone contrast conversion so that the images would resemble transmitted electron micrographs obtained with a TEM.

scholarly journals Potassium permanganate is an excellent alternative to osmium tetroxide in freeze-substitution

2022 ◽  
Author(s):  
Martin Schauflinger ◽  
Tim Bergner ◽  
Gregor Neusser ◽  
Christine Kranz ◽  
Clarissa Read
Keyword(s):  
High Pressure ◽  
Potassium Permanganate ◽  
Lipid Membranes ◽  
Osmium Tetroxide ◽  
Freeze Substitution ◽  
Uranyl Acetate ◽  
En Bloc ◽  
Block Face ◽  
Critical Aspects

AbstractHigh-pressure freezing followed by freeze-substitution is a valuable method for ultrastructural analyses of resin-embedded biological samples. The visualization of lipid membranes is one of the most critical aspects of any ultrastructural study and can be especially challenging in high-pressure frozen specimens. Historically, osmium tetroxide has been the preferred fixative and staining agent for lipid-containing structures in freeze-substitution solutions. However, osmium tetroxide is not only a rare and expensive material, but also volatile and toxic. Here, we introduce the use of a combination of potassium permanganate, uranyl acetate, and water in acetone as complementing reagents during the freeze-substitution process. This mix imparts an intense en bloc stain to cellular ultrastructure and membranes, which makes poststaining superfluous and is well suited for block-face imaging. Thus, potassium permanganate can effectively replace osmium tetroxide in the freeze-substitution solution without sacrificing the quality of ultrastructural preservation.

scholarly journals Use of tannic acid and silver enhancer to improve staining for electron microscopy and immunogold labeling.

1993 ◽  
Vol 41 (4) ◽  
pp. 643-648 ◽  
Author(s):  
J W Stirling
Keyword(s):  
Contrast Enhancement ◽  
Tannic Acid ◽  
Osmium Tetroxide ◽  
Sodium Thiosulfate ◽  
Acrylic Resin ◽  
Uranyl Acetate ◽  
Immunogold Labeling ◽  
Fixed Tissue ◽  
Sodium Metaperiodate ◽  
Gold Silver

Staining by uranyl acetate and lead citrate (UA-LC) of immunolabeled sections of unfixed glomerular basement membrane (GBM) digests embedded in low-acid glycol methacrylate (LA-GMA) is poor. The following were investigated for their ability to enhance contrast when applied to sections before UA-LC: potassium permanganate, phosphotungstic acid, gold chloride, osmium tetroxide, glutaraldehyde-osmium tetroxide, colloidal gold-silver enhancer, tannic acid, and glutaraldehyde-tannic acid. Silver enhancer (2 min incubation, no sodium thiosulfate step) gave dense GBM staining but not with immunogold labeling. Silver enhancer is recommended as a simple alternative to routine silver stains but not for contrast enhancement with immunogold labeling. Tannic acid (1% for 1 min or 0.005% for 10 sec) and glutaraldehyde (2.5% for 5 min) followed by tannic acid enhanced contrast and, when applied after immunolabeling, did not appear to affect probe levels. Tannic acid also enhanced the staining of fixed tissue in LR Gold acrylic resin and LA-GMA, but not of glutaraldehyde-osmium-fixed tissue in epoxy resin, even after sodium metaperiodate treatment. Treatment of sections with tannic acid is recommended for contrast enhancement in immunogold studies when osmium and tannic acid post-fixation must be avoided and the tissue is embedded in methacrylate or acrylic resin.

scholarly journals Getting Epoxy Semi-Thin Sections to Stick to Glass Slides

2007 ◽  
Vol 15 (4) ◽  
pp. 52-52
Author(s):  
Gilbert (Gib) Ahlstrand
Keyword(s):  
Toluidine Blue ◽  
Room Temperature ◽  
Water Drop ◽  
List Type ◽  
Distilled Water ◽  
Type Number ◽  
Blow Down ◽  
Simple Method ◽  
Thin Sections ◽  
Glass Slides

Semi-thin sections don't always want to stick to glass slides, but subbing slides is usually not needed. For sections about 2 μm thick and no larger than 4 mm on a slide, this simple method works well for me:1)Clean 1x3 inch glass slides with an ethanol rinse, then air dry at room temperature or blow down with a hair dryer.2)Collect sections on a drop or two of distilled water on the slide, transferred there from the microtome with a clean fine tipped artists brush. Collect about 8-12 sections per drop.3)Warm the slide beneath the water drop from below using an alcohol lamp, fairly hot, but not to boil, of course. After drying by heating the sections stick quite well.4)Stain, usually with 0.2 μm filtered toluidine blue, again heating but gently this time, for about a minute, until stain “develops” the section.5)Rinse that stain off with distilled water from a squirt bottle, even directing the spray right onto the sections to get rid of any precipitate. Dry again gently with flame.The heating is the trick. There should not be any need for subbing or otherwise treating slides other than cleaning them.

Nonspecific structures seen in diagnostic muscle biopsies

1987 ◽  
Vol 45 ◽  
pp. 846-847
Author(s):  
R. C. Caughey ◽  
U. P. Kalyan-Raman
Keyword(s):  
Electron Microscope ◽  
Transmission Electron Microscope ◽  
Osmium Tetroxide ◽  
Clinical History ◽  
Uranyl Acetate ◽  
Ethanol Dehydration ◽  
Tubular Aggregates ◽  
En Bloc ◽  
Transmission Electron ◽  
Muscle Biopsies

In a period of two years we have analyzed 50 muscle biopsies using the transmission electron microscope. Six nonspecific structures consisting of filamentous bodies, tubular aggregates, paracrystalline mitochondrial inclusions, honeycomb arrays, concentric laminated bodies, and finger print profiles were observed in 47 of 50 cases. In order to know the significance of these structures in muscle biopsies, we correlated their occurrence with their clinical history, histological findings, and histochemistry.The biopsies were initially fixed in 2.5% glutaraldehyde (pH. 7.5, 500 mOsm), then randomly minced and post fixed in 1% osmium tetroxide. All biopsies were processed with and without uranyl acetate en bloc staining in Walpole's buffer before ethanol dehydration. They were embedded in Epon 812 epoxy resin, sectioned, and stained with uranyl acetate and lead citrate before evaluation with a JEOL, JEM 100 C Transmission Electron Microscope. All grid squares of six different blocks were scanned to evaluate the ultra-structural pathology.

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