scholarly journals Effects of fixation and postfixation treatments on volume of injured cells;.

1975 ◽  
Vol 23 (4) ◽  
pp. 251-270 ◽  
Author(s):  
A Penttila ◽  
E M McDowell ◽  
B F Trump

The effects of fixation with glutaraldehyde (GA), formaldehyde (FA), glutaraldehyde-formaldehyde (GA-FA), flutaraldehyde-osmium tetroxide (GA-Os04) and osmium tetroxide (OsO4) on cel volume were studied in control, p-chloromercuribenzene sulfonic acid (PCMBS)-treated and hypotonically-treated Ehrlich ascites tumor cells. Among the variables investigated were concentration of the tixative agent, osmolity of the buffer, total osmolaity of the fixation solution, osmolaltity of the postfixation buffer and the time of fixation and postfixation treatment; in addition, the effects of adding calcium and high molecular weight compounds to the fixative solution were studied. When the effects of standard fixatives on control, PCMBS- and hypotonically-treated cells were compared, marked differences were apparent in the behavior of control and injured cells. Control cells retained near prefixation volume in 3% GA and 3% GA-1% OsO4, swelled in 4% FA or 1% OsO4 and phosphate buffer (tkrp), whereas tpcmbs (310 mosM KRP)- and hypotonically-treated cells (103 mos M KRP) shrank in all aldehyde fixatives but swelled in 1% OsO4. Reducing the buffer osmolality had similar effects on control and injured cells although, there were variations in degree...

1973 ◽  
Vol 51 (4) ◽  
pp. 379-389 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gerald Krystal ◽  
Peter G. Scholefield

In the partial purification of uridine kinase (ATP:uridine 5′-phosphotransferase, EC 2.7.1.48) from Ehrlich ascites tumor cells, two active fractions were obtained by chromatography on Sepharose 6B. Their molecular weights, as determined by a gel filtration and sucrose density centrifugation, were approximately 120 000 and 30 000. The larger molecular weight species was less stable on incubation at 60° and slightly less sensitive to CTP inhibition than the lower molecular weight fraction. Both fractions were stabilized against heat inactivation by ATP and CTP.The two fractions displayed similar apparent Km values for uridine and ATP, similar specificities for substrates and inhibitors, and similar divalent cation requirements.In the partial purification of uridine kinase from mouse intestine, only the larger molecular weight fraction was obtained by chromatography on Sepharose 6B.In addition, some preliminary evidence for a monomer–polymer relationship between the two molecular weight species is presented.


1974 ◽  
Vol 63 (1) ◽  
pp. 197-214 ◽  
Author(s):  
Antti Penttila ◽  
Hannu Kalimo ◽  
Benjamin F. Trump

Effects of fixation with glutaraldehyde (GA), glutaraldehyde-osmium tetroxide (GA-OsO4), and osmium tetroxide (OsO4) on ion and ATP content, cell volume, vital dye staining, and stability to mechanical and thermal stress were studied in Ehrlich ascites tumor cells (EATC). Among variables investigated were fixation time, fixative concentration, temperature, osmolality of the fixative agent and buffer, total osmolality of the fixative solution, osmolality of the postfixation buffer, and time of postfixation treatment in buffer (Sutherland, R. M., et al. 1967. J. Cell Physiol. 69:185.). Rapid loss of potassium, exchangeable magnesium, and ATP, and increase of vital dye uptake and electrical conductivity occurred with all fixatives studied. These changes were virtually immediate with GA-OsO4 or OsO4 but slower with GA (in the latter case they were dependent on fixative temperature and concentration) (Foot, N. C. 1950. In McClung's Handbook of Microscopical Technique. 3rd edition. 564.). Total fixative osmolality had a marked effect on cell volume with OsO4 but little or no effect with GA or GA-OsO4. Osmolality of the buffer had a marked effect on cell volume with OsO4, whereas with GA or GA-OsO4 it was only significant at very hypotonic buffer osmolalities. Concentration of GA had no effect on cell volume. Osmolality of the postfixation buffer had little effect on cell volume, and duration of fixation or postfixation treatment had no effect with all fixatives. Freezing and thawing or centrifugal stress (up to 100,000 g) had little or no effect on cell volume after all fixatives studied. Mechanical stress obtained by sonication showed that OsO4 alone produced poor stabilization and that GA fixation alone produced the greatest stabilization. The results indicate that rapid membrane permeability changes of EATC follow fixative action. The results are consistent with known greater stabilizing effects of GA on model protein systems since cells were also rendered relatively stable to osmotic stress during fixation, an effect not noted with OsO4. After fixation with GA and/or OsO4 cells were stable to osmotic, thermal, or mechanical stress; this is inconsistent with several earlier reports that GA-fixed cells retain their osmotic properties.


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