Influence of different cryopreparations on the distribution of ions in bullfrog myocard cells

Journal Article · Tue Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1985 · Scanning Electron Microsc.; (United States)

OSTI ID:5079528

Meyer, R; Schmitz, M; Zierold, K

Bullfrog heart muscle trabecula are shock-frozen in liquid propane cooled by liquid nitrogen and then processed for X-ray microanalysis in two different ways: 1. Freeze-drying followed by vacuum embedding. 2. Cryoultramicrotomy and freeze-drying. Stained sections of freeze-dried, embedded tissue exhibit detailed ultrastructure, but are useless for X-ray microanalysis. Unstained, dry cut plastic-sections are suitable for X-ray microanalysis, but the ultrastructure appears faint. Higher electron optical contrast and peak-to-background ratio of X-ray spectra are generally obtained in freeze-dried cryosections. Both preparation methods show that the X-ray spectra are influenced by the quality of cryofixation. The phosphorus/potassium ratio in nuclei increases with increasing ice crystal size.

• OSTI ID: 5079528
• Journal Information: Scanning Electron Microsc.; (United States), Vol. 1
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
ANIMAL CELLS
ELECTRON MICROPROBE ANALYSIS
SAMPLE PREPARATION
ELECTROLYTES
TISSUE DISTRIBUTION
CELL NUCLEI
CRYOGENICS
CRYSTALS
FREEZING
FROGS
HISTOLOGICAL TECHNIQUES
LYOPHILIZATION
MUSCLES
MYOCARDIUM
PHOSPHORUS
POTASSIUM
QUANTITY RATIO
STAINS
X-RAY SPECTRA
ALKALI METALS
AMPHIBIANS
ANIMALS
AQUATIC ORGANISMS
BODY
CARDIOVASCULAR SYSTEM
CELL CONSTITUENTS
CHEMICAL ANALYSIS
DISTRIBUTION
ELEMENTS
HEART
METALS
MICROANALYSIS
NONMETALS
ORGANS
SPECTRA
VERTEBRATES
550301* - Cytology- Tracer Techniques