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Related Experiment Videos

Lipid staining for the electron microscope: a new method.

V B Wigglesworth

    Journal of Cell Science
    |December 1, 1975
    PubMed
    Summary

    This study introduces a novel method for enhancing lipid visualization in tissues using myrcene and osmium tetroxide. This technique improves contrast for both light and electron microscopy, revealing saturated and unsaturated lipids.

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    Area of Science:

    • Biotechnology
    • Microscopy
    • Biochemistry

    Background:

    • Lipid-rich structures are crucial in cell biology.
    • Standard microscopy techniques offer limited contrast for visualizing lipids.
    • Osmium tetroxide and glutaraldehyde fixation are common but can be improved for lipid contrast.

    Purpose of the Study:

    • To develop an improved method for visualizing lipid structures in biological tissues.
    • To enhance contrast in both light and electron microscopy of lipids.
    • To identify a method capable of visualizing both saturated and unsaturated lipids.

    Main Methods:

    • Tissues were fixed using osmium tetroxide or combined osmium and glutaraldehyde.
    • Pre-embedding treatment involved partitioning tissues in 70% ethanol saturated with myrcene.
    • Sections were embedded in Spurr's medium and stained with osmium tetroxide, with or without ethyl gallate.

    Main Results:

    • The myrcene treatment significantly increased contrast in lipid-rich structures.
    • This method effectively visualized triglycerides, membranes, and mitochondria under light microscopy.
    • Both saturated and unsaturated lipids, including waxes, were visualized with enhanced contrast in electron microscopy.

    Conclusions:

    • Myrcene treatment followed by osmium tetroxide provides superior contrast for lipid visualization.
    • This technique offers a valuable tool for studying lipid distribution in biological samples.
    • The method is effective for a wide range of lipids, including challenging waxes.

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