Colloidal iron hydroxide staining of surface carbohydrates after glycerol treatment of uterine epithelial cells

Glycerol increases the cytochemical detectability of cholesterol in the apical plasma membrane of uterine epithelial cells

The apical plasma membrane of uterine epithelial cells in the rat has been treated with glycerol before fixation and then examined by freeze-fracture cytochemistry using digitonin and filipin. Many more lesions were produced by both cytochemicals following glycerol treatment than in untreated controls, and we suggest that this indicates an increased detectability of cholesterol. We consider the implications of the findings for the way in which glycerol acts on membranes and propose that glycerol promotes increased binding between cholesterol and the cytochemicals.

Avidin-ferritin cytochemistry on lectin receptors of uterine epithelial cells in the rat

Cytochemistry using biotinylated lectins and an avidin-ferritin label has been combined with freeze-fracture to study the relationship between surface carbohydrates and intramembranous particles in uterine epithelial cells. We find no structural relationship between the 2 classes of membrane components and consider the significance of this finding.

Freeze-fracture cytochemistry with polymyxin B. A study on the plasma membrane of uterine epithelial cells

The peptide antibiotic polymyxin B, has been used as a label in a freeze-fracture cytochemical study of anionic phospholipids in the plasma membrane of uterine epithelial cells. The reagent produces mainly circular lesions visible on both P and E faces of fractured membranes. IMPs are found to be associated with lesions and we consider the possible association of integral membrane proteins with anionic phospholipids as well as the mechanisms of lesion formation.