Rapid chemical dehydration of biologic samples for scanning electron microscopy using 2,2-dimethoxypropane.

Abstract

Acidified 2,2-dimethoxypropane (DMP) has been used as a rapid chemical dehydrating agent en route to plastic embedding and ulthrathin sectioning for conventional electron miscroscopy (J Histochem Cytochem 23:107, 1975). We have used DMP to dehydrate biologic specimens prior to critical point drying and metal coating for scanning electron microscopy. There is no difference in either the gross architecture or the fine surface structure of mouse small intestine and trachea, rat trachea and kidney, and cultured fibroblasts, between samples dehydrated in DMP for 5 min to 30 days and those conventionally dehydrated in ethanol or acetone. DMP dehydration is advantageous in speed, economy and apparent completeness.

• Authors: M D Maser, J J Trimble 3rd
• Journal: The journal of histochemistry and cytochemistry : official journal of the Histochemistry Society (J Histochem Cytochem) Vol. 25 Issue 4 Pg. 247-51 (Apr 1977) ISSN: 0022-1554 [Print] United States
• PMID: 67137 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Propane

Topics

• Animals
• Desiccation (methods)
• Fibroblasts (ultrastructure)
• Histocytochemistry
• Humans
• Intestine, Small (ultrastructure)
• Kidney Glomerulus (ultrastructure)
• Mice
• Microscopy, Electron, Scanning (methods)
• Propane (analogs & derivatives)
• Specimen Handling
• Staining and Labeling
• Trachea (ultrastructure)