A new procedure for handling impervious biological specimens

A new application of techniques for preparing impervious biological specimens for light microscopy (LM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) has been developed. Microwave irradiation was used to facilitate fixation. A priming technique was used to increase the bonding of the outer surface of the specimens with the resin. Priming the waxy or cuticular surface with Z-6040 (gamma-glycidoxypropyl trimethoxysilane) solved the problem of specimen "pull out" from the resin. Insect specimens with various types of cuticles (waxy or chitinous) and seeds were successfully studied ultrastructurally using this technique.