Premium
Enhanced effects of nonisotopic hafnium chloride in methanol as a substitute for uranyl acetate in TEM contrast of ultrastructure of fungal and plant cells
Author(s) -
Ikeda KenIchi,
Inoue Kanako,
Kanematsu Satoko,
Horiuchi Yoshitaka,
Park Pyoyun
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
microscopy research and technique
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.536
H-Index - 118
eISSN - 1097-0029
pISSN - 1059-910X
DOI - 10.1002/jemt.20964
Subject(s) - uranyl acetate , ultrastructure , stain , uranyl , organelle , chemistry , nuclear chemistry , staining , aqueous solution , biophysics , biochemistry , botany , biology , organic chemistry , ion , genetics
This ultrastructural study showed that nonisotopic methanolic hafnium chloride and aqueous lead solution was an excellent new electron stain for enhancing TEM contrasts of fungal and plant cell structures. The ultrastructural definition provided by the new stain was often superior to that provided by conventional staining with uranyl acetate and lead. Definition of fine ultrastructure was also supported by quantitative data on TEM contrast ratios of organelles and components in fungal and plant cells. In particular, polysaccharides, which were localized in cell walls, glycogen particles, starch grains, and plant Golgi vesicle components, were much more reactive to the new stain than to the conventional one. The new nonisotopic stain is useful for enhancing the contrast of ultrastructure in biological tissues and is a safer alternative to uranyl acetate. Microsc. Res. Tech., 2011. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.