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Rapid freezing and electron microscopy for the arrest of physiological processes
Author(s) -
Harreveld A.,
Trubatch Janett,
Steiner Jana
Publication year - 1974
Publication title -
journal of microscopy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.569
H-Index - 111
eISSN - 1365-2818
pISSN - 0022-2720
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2818.1974.tb03928.x
Subject(s) - liquid nitrogen , electron microscope , chemistry , condensation , helium , liquid helium , heat flow , moisture , biophysics , materials science , composite material , thermodynamics , optics , physics , organic chemistry , thermal , biology
SUMMARY An apparatus for the rapid freezing of tissue is described, which can be used for the electron microscopy of arrested physiological processes. The material is frozen by bringing it in contact with a silver surface cooled to liquid nitrogen temperature at reduced pressure. The freezing surface is protected from condensation of moisture and gases from the air by a flow of helium gas. The cooling of the specimen during its descent through the cold helium is not large enough to interfere with physiological processes. Freezing occurs very rapidly in the surface but is retarded to about 8 msec at a depth of 10 μm. The apparatus was used to freeze frog muscle during contraction.