X-ray microanalysis of hydrated biological specimens

Journal Article · Fri Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1982 · Scanning Electron Microsc.; (United States)

OSTI ID:5899768

Makita, T; Ueda, H; Hirose, H; Idegomori, T

Using a wide angle backscattered electron detector (BED), glutaraldehyde fixed or unfixed specimens of biological soft tissues such as hen oviduct, kidney, liver, duodenum of mouse as well as mitochondrial fraction from rat liver were observed under low vacuum (0.3 to 0.5 torr) at magnifications from x300 to 10,000. The backscattered electron images (BEI) of glutaraldehyde fixed hen oviduct were correlated to X-ray microanalysis. Intracellular secretion granules in such unhydrated, uncoated and unstained slices of hen oviduct preserved Ca even after glutaraldehyde fixation. Backscattered electron images of unfixed duodenum and kidney of mice were not satisfactory for observing intracellular structures, though X-ray microanalysis could detect P,S,Cl and K over cut surfaces of such hydrated unfixed tissue. Compared with frozen dehydrated specimen, the hydrated unfixed tissue tends to preserve more potassium and less chlorine. Cytochemical reaction product of succinate dehydrogenase (SDH-ase) activity in isolated mitochondria from rat liver was detectable in hydrated condition. Quick and easy assessment of localized elements in surgical specimens by combination of wet-SEM and X-ray microanalysis will be a new tool for clinical application of SEM. In spite of obvious limitations of this method, especially of its spatial resolution both in backscattered electron image and in bulk specimen X-ray microanalysis, the combination of wet-SEM and X-ray microanalysis provides information which has not been available in the past.

• Research Organization: Veterinary Anatomy, Yamaguchi University, Yamaguchi City, Japan
• OSTI ID: 5899768
• Journal Information: Scanning Electron Microsc.; (United States), Journal Name: Scanning Electron Microsc.; (United States) Vol. 3; ISSN SEMYB
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
400103 -- Radiometric & Radiochemical Procedures-- (-1987)
550200* -- Biochemistry
59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
ALKALI METALS
ANIMAL CELLS
BODY
CELL CONSTITUENTS
CHEMICAL ANALYSIS
CHLORINE
ELECTRON MICROPROBE ANALYSIS
ELECTRON MICROSCOPY
ELEMENTS
HALOGENS
METALS
MICROANALYSIS
MICROSCOPY
MITOCHONDRIA
NONMETALS
ORGANOIDS
PHOSPHORUS
POTASSIUM
QUANTITATIVE CHEMICAL ANALYSIS
SCANNING ELECTRON MICROSCOPY
SULFUR
TISSUES
TRACE AMOUNTS