The use of hyaluronidase and glucosidase to remove mucus from the rat middle ear cavities for SEM studies.
To conduct SEM studies on epithelium containing mucus-producing cells it is essential to remove the mucus which normally obscures the epithelial surface. This study presents a method which effectively removes the covering layer of mucus in the rat middle ear. Healthy Sprague-Dawley rats were decapitated and the middle ears dissected free. Incubation and agitation of the middle ear specimens in hyaluronidase (50 IE ml-1) and/or glucosidase (8%) removed the mucus from the middle ear cavity without altering the surface structures. It was also revealed that substances such as polyvinyl-pyrrolidone (PVP) (used to increase the colloid osmotic pressure of, e.g., the fixative solution) must be omitted when preparing ciliated specimens for SEM.
Nilsson
M
M
Department of Anatomy, University of Umeå, Sweden.
Hellström
S
S
Hedlund
U
U
D000818:Animals; D002923:Cilia / Q000648:ultrastructure; D004432:Ear, Middle / Q000737:chemistry; D005959:Glucosidases / Q000737:chemistry*; D016591:Histocytological Preparation Techniques; D006821:Hyaluronoglucosaminidase / Q000737:chemistry*; D008297:Male; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning / Q000379:methods*; D009093:Mucus / Q000737:chemistry*; D011205:Povidone; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains
D005959:Glucosidases; D006821:Hyaluronoglucosaminidase; D011205:Povidone