Microfilament distribution and adhesion patterns in cultured cells after glutaraldehyde-formaldehyde fixation

To study the relationship between microfilament distribution and adhesion patterns in the same cultured cell, we have employed a simple glutaraldehyde-formaldehyde fixation technique followed by permeabilization of the cells in buffered Triton X-100. This method gives an excellent preservation of cellular morphology in general and of adhesion patterns in particular for examination with surface reflection interference microscopy. It also permits the concomitant use of the actin-specific fluorescent probe NBD-phallacidin to visualize the distribution of microfilaments.