Open AccessPrimary fixation in osmium-potassium ferrocyanide: the staining of glycogen, glycoproteins, elastin, an intranuclear reticular structure, and intercisternal trabeculae.
Author(s) -
Sidney Goldfischer,
Yvonne Kress,
Bernice Coltoff-Schiller,
Judd Berman
Publication year - 1981
Publication title -
journal of histochemistry and cytochemistry/the journal of histochemistry and cytochemistry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.971
H-Index - 124
eISSN - 1551-5044
pISSN - 0022-1554
DOI - 10.1177/29.9.6169760
Subject(s) - reticular connective tissue , endoplasmic reticulum , staining , chemistry , fixative , elastin , golgi apparatus , osmium , paraformaldehyde , ferrocyanide , glycogen , interphase , biophysics , fixation (population genetics) , biochemistry , anatomy , cytoplasm , microbiology and biotechnology , biology , genetics , organic chemistry , electrode , ruthenium , gene , catalysis
Primary fixation in an osmium-potassium ferrocyanide (K4Fe(CN)6) mixture combines selective fixation, staining, and extraction of various cellular components; membranes, glycogen, glycoproteins, and elastin are preserved and stained. An intranuclear reticular structure that is composed of 3-6 nm fibers and permeates the entire nucleus, except for the nuclear pores, is demonstrated by electron microscopic examination of tissues prepared in an osmium-potassium ferrocyanide fixative. Condensations of the reticulum parallel the distribution of heterochromatin in interphase nuclei. This preparative procedure also reveals a network of trabeculae that are associated with the cisternae of rough endoplasmic reticulum and connect the parallel cisternae in hepatocytes, plasmacytes, neurons, and pancreatic ancinar cells. The intercisternal trabeculae are associated with both free and bound ribosomes.