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An evaluation of freeze fixation as a phytoplankton preservation method for microautoradiography 1
Author(s) -
Paerl Hans W.
Publication year - 1984
Publication title -
limnology and oceanography
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.7
H-Index - 197
eISSN - 1939-5590
pISSN - 0024-3590
DOI - 10.4319/lo.1984.29.2.0417
Subject(s) - glutaraldehyde , preservative , phytoplankton , fixation (population genetics) , formaldehyde , chemistry , environmental chemistry , chromatography , biochemistry , food science , nutrient , organic chemistry , gene
Quantitative microautoradiography of marine and freshwater phytoplankton has been hampered by the fact that chemical techniques used to maintain structural integrity cause leakage of isotopically labeled cell constituents. Furthermore, some chemical preservatives have led to chemography or chemical exposure of autoradiographic emulsions. Chemography, poor preservation of structural integrity, and leakage of cell constituents can all be avoided by quick‐freezing filtered samples in liquid N 2 and then freeze‐drying them before autoradiographic preparation. Freeze fixation is superior to commonly used preservatives including ethyl alcohol, formaldehyde, glutaraldehyde, and Lugol’s iodide. Leakage of fixed 14 C and 33 P and preservation of cell shapes and sizes by these preservation techniques are evaluated in diverse marine and freshwater phytoplankton communities.