N-VINYLPYRROLIDONE AS A WATER COMPATIBLE CONSTITUENT OF EMBEDDING RESINS FOR SECTIONING IN ELECTRON MICROSCOPY

Area of Science:

• Polymer Chemistry
• Cell Biology
• Histology

Background:

• Ultrathin sectioning is crucial for high-resolution microscopy.
• Conventional embedding resins have limitations in terms of water miscibility and polymerization temperature.
• Developing novel embedding resins is essential for advancing histochemical techniques.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe a novel triple copolymer embedding resin for ultrathin sectioning.
• To evaluate its compatibility with different fixatives and its suitability for histochemistry.
• To present microscopic images of plant cells sectioned using this new resin.

Main Methods:

• Synthesis of a cross-linked triple copolymer of N-vinylpyrrolidone, acrylonitrile, and ethylene glycol dimethacrylate.
• Utilizing water or ethanol for dehydration.
• Polymerization at low temperatures (≤37°C).
• Fixation of rye root-tip cells using permanganates.
• Ultrathin sectioning and microscopic examination.

Main Results:

• The resin is miscible with water, allowing its use as a dehydrating agent.
• Polymerization can be achieved at or below 37°C.
• The resin is incompatible with osmium fixatives but yields results similar to epoxy resins after permanganate fixation.
• Photographs demonstrate successful sectioning of permanganate-fixed rye root-tip cells.

Conclusions:

• The novel triple copolymer embedding resin exhibits water permeability and low polymerization temperature.
• These properties suggest potential applications in histochemistry.
• The resin offers an alternative to traditional embedding media, particularly after permanganate fixation.