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A technique for processing mucous coated marine invertebrate spermatozoa for scanning electron microscopy
Author(s) -
Atwood D. G.,
Crawford B. J.,
Braybrook G. D.
Publication year - 1975
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.1365-2818.1975.tb03901.x
Subject(s) - osmium tetroxide , glutaraldehyde , scanning electron microscope , hyaluronidase , fixation (population genetics) , ultrastructure , mucus , marine invertebrates , electron microscope , materials science , anatomy , biomedical engineering , chemistry , chromatography , biology , composite material , fishery , optics , biochemistry , medicine , ecology , physics , gene , enzyme
SUMMARY A technique for preparing heavily mucous coated marine invertebrate spermatozoa for scanning electron microscopy (SEM) is described. This technique involves washing in 1500 NF units/ml hyaluronidase in millipored sea water to remove mucus, followed by fixation in glutaraldehyde and osmium tetroxide. Following primary fixation, spermatozoa are enclosed in Nuclepore membrane bags positioned within Teflon specimen capsules allowing them to be processed and critical point dried without excessive mechanical damage or loss.