Sample preparation for electron microscopy of internal cell structure

Platinum replicas of broken-open osteoclasts imaged by transmission electron microscopy

BACKGROUND

Preserving the cellular structure at the highest possible resolution is a prerequisite for morphological studies to deepen our understanding of cellular functions. A revival of interest in rapid-freezing methods combined with breaking-open techniques has taken place with the development of effective and informative approaches in platinum replica electron microscopy, thus providing new approaches to address unresolved issues in cell biology.

HIGHLIGHT

The images produced with platinum replicas revealed 3D structures of the cell interior: (1) cell membranes associated with highly organized cytoskeletons, including podosomes or geodomes, (2) heterogeneous clathrin assemblies and membrane skeletons on the inner side of the membrane, and (3) organization of the cytoskeleton after detergent extraction.

CONCLUSION

In this review, I will focus on the platinum replica method after brokenopen cells have been broken open with mechanical shearing or detergent extraction. Often forgotten nowadays is the use of platinum replicas with stereomicroscopic observations for transmission electron microscopy study; these "old-fashioned" imaging techniques, combined with the breaking-open technique represent a highly informative approach to deepen our understanding of the organization of the cell interior. These are still being pursued to answer outstanding biological questions.

Field-emission scanning electron microscopy of the internal cellular organization of fungi

Internal viewing of the cellular organization of hyphae by scanning electron microscopy is an alternative to observing sectioned fungal material with a transmission electron microscope. To study cytoplasmic organelles in the hyphal cells of fungi by SEM, colonies were chemically fixed with glutaraldehyde and osmium tetroxide and then immersed in dimethyl sulfoxide. Following this procedure, the colonies were frozen and fractured on a liquid nitrogen-precooled metal block. Next, the fractured samples were macerated in diluted osmium tetroxide to remove the cytoplasmic matrix and subsequently dehydrated by freeze substitution in methanol. After critical point drying, mounting, and sputter coating, fractured cells of several basidiomycetes were imaged with field-emission SEM. This procedure produced clear images of elongated and spherical mitochondria, the nucleus, intravacuolar structures, tubular- and plate-like endoplasmic reticulum, and different types of septal pore caps. This method is a powerful approach for studying the intracellular ultrastructure of fungi by SEM.

Effects of four different processing techniques on the microstructure of potatoes: comparison with fresh samples in the ESEM

Four common scanning electron microscope (SEM) processing techniques involving freeze-substitution and chemical fixation were compared with fresh unprocessed samples imaged in an environmental scanning electron microscope (ESEM) using small pieces of potato tubers as test specimens. Potato tubers were chosen for this investigation because of their high moisture content and, consequently, the common need for extensive processing for conventional, high vacuum SEM imaging. ESEM results showed that the fresh unprocessed specimens were essentially unaltered, showing clear potato cell structure, morphology, and cell content. However, processed samples showed strong differences to the fresh samples: freeze-substituted specimens showed fine networks of material stretching across the surface of cells. These structures may represent fibrillar material or may be artifact caused during processing. Chemical fixation almost entirely destroyed the microstructure of these potato samples.