Premium
Effects of Glutaraldehyde and Osmium Tetroxide on Hypotrichous Ciliates, and Determination of the Most Satisfactory Fixation Methods for Electron Microscopy
Author(s) -
SHIGENAKA Y.,
WATANABE K.,
KANEDA M.
Publication year - 1973
Publication title -
the journal of protozoology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.067
H-Index - 77
eISSN - 1550-7408
pISSN - 0022-3921
DOI - 10.1111/j.1550-7408.1973.tb00912.x
Subject(s) - glutaraldehyde , osmium tetroxide , fixation (population genetics) , electron microscope , chemistry , materials science , chromatography , optics , biochemistry , physics , gene
SYNOPSIS. In electron microscope studies on hyppotrichous ciliates, cytolysis and/or body deformation–resulting from insufficient contact with glutaraldehyde and poor infiltration of Epon 812, particularly into the buccal cavity, usually were observed. Fixation experiments were carried out to examine the effects of some fixatives on Euplotes eurystomus, Oxytricha bifaria and Stylonychia mytilus to establish the best fixation technic applicable to all species of hypotrichous ciliates. Although the effects of fixation varied considerably with the species, 2 fully satisfactory fixation methods were developed by using OsO 4 and glutaraldehyde. In one, a mixture of both fixatives was employed; in the other a very short application of OsO 4 was followed by glutaraldehyde. The problem of infiltration was solved by using Spurr's low‐viscosity embedding medium in place of Epon 812.