[Use of electron microscopy for study of animal brain synaptosomes]

Studies were carried out on the fraction of animal brain synaptosomes obtained by the method of differential centrifugation. We studied the possibility of using electron microscopy of ultrathin section and freeze-etching for assessment of the state of synaptosomal membranes and functional state of synaptosomes. The method of freeze-etching proved to be the most informative. In order to assess the state of synaptosomes, the following characteristics were used: coefficient of lateral diffusion and asymmetric distribution of intramembrane particles. It was also possible to identify mitochondria in the synaptosomal fraction using freeze-etching, which is an important criterion of purity of the suspension of synaptosomes.