An osmium-ferricyanide staining method for the intercellular space in the small intestinal epithelium.
The post-fixation with osmium tetroxide and potassium ferricyanide (OsFeCN) produced dense deposits on the outer surface of the lateral plasma membrane in the mouse small intestinal epithelium. The deposits also filled up the intercellular space. No deposits were found on the surface of apical and basal plasma membranes. This staining pattern was highly reproducible when pH of the OsFeCN solution was adjusted to 7.0 by cacodylate buffer without calcium ion. Thus, our modified OsFeCN method is useful to selectively stain the intercellular space in epithelial tissues.
Department of Structural Analysis, National Cardiovascular Center Research Institute, Osaka, Japan.
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Jinguji
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Ishikawa
D000818:Animals; D004847:Epithelial Cells; D004848:Epithelium / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D005110:Extracellular Space / Q000378:metabolism*; D005295:Ferrocyanides / Q000378:metabolism; D006652:Histological Techniques; D007421:Intestine, Small / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008854:Microscopy, Electron / Q000379:methods; D009992:Osmium / Q000378:metabolism; D013194:Staining and Labeling
D005295:Ferrocyanides; D009992:Osmium