High-resolution backscatter electron detection of cell surface molecules on human platelets using the double-layer...

A model system utilizing cryo scanning electron microscopy (SEM) for the detection of putative cell adhesion molecule(s) on the surface of human platelets is described. Plunge freezing was used for cryoimmobilization of unactivated and activated platelets after prefixation. Extracellular ice was removed by sublimation to expose the surface of the platelet membrane. Cryosamples were coated by the double-layer method, in which undirectional shadowing is performed at an angle of 45 degrees with 2 nm of platinum by thermal evaporation, followed by evaporation of 5 nm of carbon at an angle of 90 degrees for stabilization of the platinum film. The topography of the extracellular surface of the unstimulated platelet membrane was dominated by small spherical protrusions, while that of the activated platelet had not only similar spherical projections, but also possessed numerous rod-like protrusions, presumably representing the upregulation of the cell adhesion molecule, P-selectin, from intracellular a granules. These results clearly demonstrate that cryo field-emission SEM can detect molecular topography on the extracellular surface of cells consistent with the dimensions and shape of membrane cell adhesion molecules.