Outgrowth from chick embryo spinal cord in vitro, studied with the scanning electron microscope

Enhanced visualization of peripheral nerve and sensory receptors in the scanning electron microscope using cryofracture and osmium-thiocarbohydrazide-osmium impregnation

Two methods of specimen preparation for the scanning electron microscope (SEM) have been combined for the reliable exposure and examination of nervous system tissue. When the specimen is postfixed with OSO4 prior to aqueous cryofracturing, large internal surfaces of nervous tissue are exposed, with minimal distortion to the cytoarchitecture. All tissue surfaces and interstices are subsequently impregnated with a conductive, metallic layer of osmium using a modified osmium-thiocarbohydrazide-osmium technique (OTOTO). This OTOTO technique permits SEM examination without any additional vacuum evaporated or ion-sputtered metallic layers, and has been found to eliminate specimen charging reliably. Nervous tissue has been examined in the secondary electron mode of the SEM with unrestricted use of beam currents varying from 1.3 to 60 microamperemeter, at accelerating voltages ranging from 2.5 to 80 kV, and at both low (10 X) and high (80 000 X) magnifications. In addition, a differential deposition of osmium in the tissue after the OTOTO technique has been identified using both transmission electron microscopy and energy dispersive X-ray microanalysis. The enhanced mass-density of myelin resulting from the amplification of osmium's natural affinity for unsaturated lipids was best demonstrated by the backscatter electron mode of the SEM. This mode of imaging was found useful in the identification of myelin sheaths.

Morphological correlations with dimensional change during SEM specimen preparation

We have previously reported details of the dimensional changes taking place during the processing of soft tissue specimens for scanning electron microscopy. Mouse embryo limbs were used for many of these measurements and the present paper deals with the associated morphological findings. Effects of fixation, dehydration and drying are considered. Freeze drying and critical point drying of glutaraldehyde and glutaraldehyde and osmium fixed samples give perfectly acceptable results for scanning electron microscopy. The best volume retention with freeze dried material is matched by the best morphological appearance of the specimen surface, except when ice crystal damage occurs due to a failure to freeze the tissue rapidly enough. For CPD tissues, perforation of the plasmalemma may occur in glutaraldehyde-only fixed tissue, this being prevented by post-osmication if the glutaraldehyde fixation is not unduly prolonged. This perforation may be due to the extraction of some plasmalemma component during dehydration or further solvent substitution on critical point drying. Solvent evaporation drying usually causes recognizable distortion due to shrinkage: this is minimal in the case of solvent evaporation drying in a nearly saturated atmosphere of the same solvent if this is a very volatile solvent. The examples of Freon 113 and diethyl ether are given here. Swelling during early stages of ethanol dehydration can be prevented by using 70% or 100% ethanol as the first step, with marginal reduction in the post CPD volume and no apparent differences in the SEM. The severe swelling causing sample disruption which can occur with GA + OsO4 fixed tissue can also be prevented by treating the sample with divalent cations, such as Ca++ or Cu++, at any stage.

On the intrinsic innervation of normal rat liver. Histochemical and scanning electron microscopical studies

With the Bodian method stained fibers were observed in the lobules of the rat liver and with the modified Karnovsky and Roots thiocholine method cholinesterase (presumably acetylcholinesterase (AChE))-positive nerve fibers were found in a pattern similar to that of the Bodian-stained fibers. The AChE-positive nerve fibers form a network in the liver lobules in close relation to hepatocytes and sinusoids. Fluorescent varicose nerve fibers demonstrated by the glyoxylic acid and Falck-Hillarp fluorescence methods were found only in the interlobular spaces associated with vessels. As no overlapping of distribution patterns of AChE-positive nerve fibers and fluorescent nerve fibers occurs, the AChE activity of the nerves of the liver lobules probably reflects the associated presence of acetylcholine in the nerve fibers. In consequence we suggest that nerves of the liver lobules belong to the autonomic parasympathetic nervous system. SEM of liver tissue revealed light cords apparently situated in smooth-surfaced channels between adjacent hepatocytes and in the space of Disse, where fibers also cross sinusoids. We tentatively suggest that the cords of the SEM represent the AChE-positive nerve fibers of our LM observations.

Growth of diseased human muscle in combined cultures with normal mouse embryonic spinal cord

Normal and diseased human muscle cells have been grown in combined cultures with 12-14 day embryonic mouse spinal cord explants. Nerve endings on myotubes were found by light and scanning electron microscopy, and motor end-plates were identified by a histochemical reaction for acetylcholinesterase. Contracting myotubes, never observed in cultures of human muscle alone, were found in a culture from normal muscle. Histochemical studies demonstrated the presence of strongly and weakly reacting myotubes for both ATPase pH 9.4 and NADH-TR, but could not be related to the development of fibre types. No differences in morphology or histochemical reactions were found between normal and diseased muscle cells in these combined cultures.

Studying neural organization in Aplysia with the scanning electron microscope

Preliminary attempts have been made to employ the scanning electron microscope in the mapping of a simple nervous system, the abdominal ganglion of Aplysia californica. Early results are encouraging: neuronal fibers have been identified and traced over relatively long distances from their cell bodies to structures tentatively identified as synapses and to structures tentatively identified as electrotonic connections.