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Some experiences in the use of a polymeric cryoprotectant in the freezing of plant tissue
Author(s) -
Wilson A. J.,
Robards A. W.
Publication year - 1982
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.1365-2818.1982.tb00345.x
Subject(s) - cryoprotectant , ultrastructure , cryopreservation , polymer , shrinkage , ice crystals , biophysics , hard tissue , ice formation , chemistry , plant tissue , materials science , chemical engineering , botany , microbiology and biotechnology , biology , composite material , surgery , medicine , organic chemistry , embryo , engineering , atmospheric sciences , geology , optics , physics
SUMMARY Recently it has been suggested that polymeric cryoprotectants might be usefully employed for reducing ice crystal size during ultrastructural and analytical studies of frozen biological tissues. Furthermore, it was reported that they have little physiological effect and cause negligible structural changes in the tissue. Our experiences with one such polymer, polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP), in the cryopreservation of mature plant roots prepared for electron microscopy, have led us to conclude that preservation deep into the structure of this tissue is not improved. Even short periods of exposure of tissue to polymer cause rapid withdrawal of water from vacuolated cells of plant roots, resulting in shrinkage and collapse. Low temperature techniques have confirmed that little if any improvement in the reduction of ice crystal size results if the root is first treated with PVP.