Scanning electron microscopic study of immunogold-labeled human leukocytes

For many years critical point drying (CPD) has been the method of choice for preparing cells for scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Described herein is a simple, efficient, inexpensive, reproducible, and safe procedure using Peldri II, a proprietary fluorocarbon compound that is solid at room temperature and a liquid above 25 degrees C, as a sublimation dehydrant for processing specimens for SEM. The utility of Peldri II was demonstrated in studies using leukocytes from the blood of healthy donors and patients with leukemia as well as from long-term lymphoblastoid cell lines. The application of the proposed Peldri II procedure was further documented in SEM studies in which the expression and distribution of the interleukin-2 receptor (IL-2R) on leukocyte surface membranes was imaged using colloidal gold-labeled antibodies (i.e., immunogold). When compared with current SEM preparation procedures using CPD, Peldri II is a useful alternative that is thought to offer several important advantages.