[Effect of preparation procedures on the calculation of average cell volumes from stereological data]

The shrinkage of peritoneal cell during the electron microscopical preparation was investigated by means of a special device. Independently of the procedure of fixation after critical point drying the cells exhibit only 54 to 59% of the original diameter (residual volume about 18%). The reduction of cell diameter after Epon embedding is about 25%, corresponding to a residual volume of 40%.