title: Electron microscopy of synaptonemal complexes in semithin sections.
abstract: The technique of osmium tetroxide fixation followed by a treatment with p-phenylenediamine was applied to mouse testes in order to analyze pachytene nuclei. Observation of Epon semithin sections (0.25--0.5 micrometer) in conventional electron microscopy revealed the presence of positively stained synaptonemal complexes surrounded by unstained chromatin. The present results show that by using this method a suitable contrast and resolution can be achieved for semithin sections, which facilitates the topographical study of synaptonemal complexes.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D007202:Indicators and Reagents; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008854:Microscopy, Electron / Q000379:methods; D013090:Spermatocytes / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D013737:Testis / Q000648:ultrastructure*
chemical_list: D007202:Indicators and Reagents