ELECTRON PROBE ANALYSIS OF THE CALCIUM DISTRIBUTION IN CELLS OF THE EMBRYONIC CHICK CHORIOALLANTOIC MEMBRANE I. A CRITICAL EVALUATION OF TECHNIQUES

The chorioallantoic membrane of the developing chick embryo is an epithelium that actively transports calcium. The methodology utilized to prepare this soft tissue for calcium localization with the electron probe x-ray microanalyzer is presented in detail. The preparative procedures are evaluated according to general histochemical principles and in relationship specifically to electron probe investigations. It is shown that the method employed in these studies preserves the normal fine structure of the tissue, prevents selective loss of calcium, permits only minor losses of total calcium and appears to maintain the distribution of calcium that existed in vivo. Examples are presented of artifacts that can be induced during tissue sectioning and mounting procedures. Problems of defining electron probe resolution in biologic specimens are discussed, and the critical importance of evaluating x-ray images in association with simultaneously generated sample current images is emphasized.